INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Afghanistan

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what proportion of her Department's annual budget for (a) 2001–02 and (b) 2002–03 was allocated to Afghanistan (i) as a proportion of the total annual budget and (ii) in pounds sterling.

Clare Short: In financial year 2001–02, DFID allocated £60 million to Afghanistan. This represents 1.9 per cent. of my Department's annual budget for that year.
	In the current 2002–03 financial year, the allocation for Afghanistan has been increased to £70 million. This represents 2.1 per cent. of my Department's annual budget for the current year.

Afghanistan

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what financial resources have been allocated for the year 2003–04 (a) as a percentage of her Department's budget and (b) pounds sterling for Afghanistan.

Clare Short: My Department has allocated at least £200 million for Afghanistan over the five years 2002–03 to 2006–07. We are currently reviewing our country allocations for the 2003–04 Resource Allocation Round. These will be published in the 2003 DFID departmental report.

Animal Welfare

Nick Palmer: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans she has to produce a statement of policy on animal welfare based on the report she commissioned entitled Human Development and Animal Welfare; and if she will make a statement.

Clare Short: We have used a commissioned study on Human Development and Animal Welfare to inform our thinking on animal welfare and livestock-dependent livelihoods. We have no plans to produce a statement of policy on animal welfare.

Health, Education and Water Provision

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what percentage of her Department's budget was spent on (a) health, (b) education and (c) water provision in each financial year 1998–99 to 2001–02.

Clare Short: In the last complete financial year the bilateral aid programme represented 52 per cent. of my Department's spending. The proportion of the bilateral programme allocable by sector spent on health, education and water from 1998–99 to 2001–02 was:
	
		Percentage
		
			  2001–02 2000–01 1999–2000 1998–99 
		
		
			 Health and population 20 22 20 17 
			 Education 12 17 14 18 
			 Water and Sanitation 4 4 4 4 
		
	
	These figures represent expenditure on projects specific to these sectors but do not capture the full extent of our efforts in each policy area because they exclude multisector projects and programmes, strategic funding to civil society organisations and budget support and balance of payments. Also excluded are activities funded through multilateral channels.

Computer Crime

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many cases of computer (a) hacking, (b) fraud and (c) theft her Department recorded in 2001–02; and on how many occasions computer systems have been illegally accessed by computer hackers (i) within and (ii) outside her Department.

Clare Short: The information is as follows:
	1. No cases of either computer hacking or computer fraud were recorded in DFID during the period 2001–02.
	2. Eight cases of computer theft were recorded during the same period. Seven of these involved the theft of laptop computers:
	Three were taken from DFID premises
	Two were lost in transit
	Two were stolen in break-ins from private homes.
	The eighth was a palmtop Personal Digital Assistant that was believed to have been taken from DFID premises.
	3. There were no recorded incidents of DFID computer systems being illegally accessed by computer hackers either from within or from outside of the Department during the period 2001–02.

Departmental Consultations

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list consultations her Department has conducted since 1997; and when each consultation (a) opened and (b) closed

Clare Short: We do not keep a record of all consultations held since 1997 and it would involve disproportionate cost to compile such a list. However, all current consultations are now featured on DFID's website (www.dfid.gov.uk), as well as being available in printed format.

Domestic Violence

Margaret Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps she is taking to raise awareness of domestic violence in third world countries; and what developments are being made in providing services for victims.

Clare Short: Gender equality is an essential precondition for poverty eradication and upholding human rights. Addressing domestic violence is an important component of this work. My Department is making a substantial effort to raise awareness of this complex issue, through partnerships with many poor countries, and with the donor community, including the World Health Organisation, the International Labour Organisation and the UN Development Fund for Women. Support for legal literacy, and access to justice programmes, focus on women and address the root causes of disempowerment and vulnerability to violence—especially domestic, but also by police, and in prisons.
	In working to meet our objective to increase women's personal security and reduce gender-based violence, we are supporting for example:
	Reform and strengthening of criminal and civil law
	Awareness-raising of women's rights among police and judiciary
	Public information campaigns
	Women's organisations
	Improved knowledge and statistics
	For illustration, DFID assistance is helping to establish the first family protection unit in the Arab world, providing £2 million over three years in Jordan. We are supporting work to sensitise the police in Bangladesh to violence against women, and counselling for the survivors of domestic violence (£4 million over five years). In Pakistan, we are assisting in the design of a comprehensive national strategy including awareness-raising through a national "zero tolerance" media campaign, and the building of referral systems to provide support and recourse for victims, and for community-based dispute resolution (£2 million over three years). In Uganda, we have supported pilot work to establish policy, procedures and practical measures at community level (£95,000). There are many other similar examples.

Iraq

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  what financial resources have been allocated for the establishment of safe havens in Iraq in the event of war;
	(2)  what financial resources have been allocated for the provision of clean water to Iraqi refugees in (a) Turkey, (b) Syria, (c) Jordan, (d) Saudi Arabia, (e) Kuwait and (f) Iran and their borders with Iraq in the event of war;
	(3)  what financial resources have been allocated for the provision of shelter for Iraqi civilian refugees in (a) Turkey, (b) Syria, (c) Jordan, (d) Saudi Arabia, (e) Kuwait and (f) Iran, and their borders with Iraq, in the event of war.

Clare Short: My Department does not pre-allocate financial resources for response to humanitarian crises before they happen. DFID provides a contingency reserve of £100 million which we will draw on for the Iraqi emergency.
	DFID's funding for the UN and other humanitarian agencies includes provision for emergency preparedness for a variety of contingencies across the world. We are supplementing this funding with an additional £3.5 million contribution to support UN humanitarian contingency planning for Iraq, including the prepositioning of basic supplies by UN agencies including UNHCR. We also fund a programme of assistance to Iraqi Refugees in Iran, which is managed by AMAR Appeal, an NGO, and consists of the provision of emergency supplies and primary health care for refugees living both in and outside of official camps.

Iraq

Peter Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  what discussions she has had with Save the Children regarding research they have carried out on the impact of any impending war against Iraq on Iraqi children; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  what discussions she has had to help ensure that Iraqi people receive aid in terms of food, water, clothing and accommodation in the event of a war against Iraq; and if she will make a statement;
	(3)  what discussions she has had with aid organisations regarding the possible impact of a war against Iraq on existing food aid deliveries; and if she will make a statement.

Clare Short: The Iraqi people, including the children who make up half of the population, are already vulnerable. The prevalence of low birth-weight babies has increased more than five times in the last 10 years. A sudden disruption to this already fragile situation, including to the UN Oil for Food programme on which 60 per cent. of Iraqi people are dependent, could lead to a spiralling human catastrophe.
	My Department is holding regular discussions with the Ministry of Defence, the US, UN and others about ways to minimise the suffering of the Iraqi people. One key priority would be to re-establish the Oil For Food distribution network as quickly as possible if it is disrupted. We are also providing an additional £3.5 million funding for support to UN humanitarian contingency planning for Iraq, including the prepositioning of food and other essential supplies. My officials continue to discuss the humanitarian situation with NGOs, especially those who we are funding for ongoing humanitarian work in Iraq, including Save the Children.

Iraq

Peter Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions she has had with the United Nations regarding their estimates of the number of (a) children under five at risk of death, (b) mothers and children needing food and (c) people needing shelter in the event of a war in Iraq; and if she will make a statement.

Clare Short: My Department holds regular discussions with UN agencies about the humanitarian situation in Iraq and measures to respond to any crisis. United Nations planning estimates of the numbers who may be affected vary according to different scenarios of the extent and length of disruption to existing systems.

Iraq

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what extra money is being made available for helping Iraq after possible military intervention.

Clare Short: DFID provides a contingency reserve of £100 million which we will draw on for the Iraqi emergency.

Kyrgyzstan

Peter Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what proportion of the UK aid budget was given to Kyrgyzstan in each of the last five years; and if she will make a statement.

Clare Short: Figures on the total UK bilateral programme spend within which Kyrgystan is included is shown in the table:
	
		£ million
		
			  Total UK programme Spend Krygystan 
		
		
			 1997–98 1,439 0.5 
			 1998–99 1,382 0.5 
			 1999–2000 1,655 1.2 
			 2000–01 1,758 1.5 
			 2001–02 1,954 1.8 
		
	
	In addition the following amounts of UK funds were channelled through multilateral organisations, on a calendar year basis, over the same period:
	
		UK imputed multilateral shares
		
			  £ million  
		
		
			 1997 11.6 
			 1998 9.1 
			 1999 2.8 
			 2000 5.9

Laptops

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many laptop computers were used by (a) Ministers and special advisers and (b) officials in her Department in each year since 1995; how many were (i) lost and (ii) stolen; what their cost was; and if she will make a statement.

Clare Short: In September 2001 there was a change in the system used by my Department for recording the number of laptops in the temporary loan pool. All previous records have been destroyed. There are currently 134 laptop computers in the pool and they are available for use by Ministers, special advisers and officials in my Department.
	The number of laptops purchased by DFID by financial year is as follows:
	
		
			 Financial year Number of laptops purchased 
		
		
			 1995–96 57 
			 1996–97 185 
			 1997–98 121 
			 1998–99 125 
			 1999–2000 148 
			 2000–01 265 
			 2001–02 251 
			 2002–03 (to date) 308 
		
	
	A total of 20 laptop computers were stolen during the 7-year period 1 April 1995 to 31 March 2002 . None were lost. The breakdown by financial years with costs is as follows:
	
		£
		
			  Number of laptops Value 
		
		
			 1995–96 2 2,387.50 
			 1996–97 2 1,986.00 
			 1997–98 2 2,732.00 
			 1998–99 Nil  
			 1999–2000 3 4,420.00 
			 2000–01 8 8,678.56 
			 2001–02 3 3,497.25

Online Sales/Purchases

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what (a) products, (b) goods and (c) services were (i) bought and (ii) sold online by her Department in each of the last five years.

Clare Short: DFID purchases a small range of low value goods online, mainly IT peripherals, stationery, books and office equipment. Total expenditure records are not held centrally and could be produced only at disproportionate cost. DFID does not currently purchase services on-line.
	DFID has started using the Government Procurement Card, which will increase our electronic purchasing. We do not sell products, goods, or services.

Overseas Assistance

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what financial resources from the UK Government have been (a) pledged and (b) transferred to (i) Afghanistan and (ii) Kosovo, broken down by (A) Government Department and (B) departmental budget heading.

Clare Short: In July 1999, DFID pledged £90 million in humanitarian assistance to Kosovo. This was followed by a further pledge of £29 million in November 1999. In February 2001, we pledged a further £6.95 million as budget support and £5 million as technical assistance for 2001.
	Since these pledges were made, we have disbursed £108 million as humanitarian aid, £14 million as budgetary support and £8.6 million as technical assistance. In addition, we have contributed substantially through our share of the EC's development assistance to Kosovo, which has amounted to £122 million since 1999.
	On Afghanistan, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave her at column 1W above.
	We are unable to provide details of funding from other Government Departments, as this information is not held centrally.

Reproductive Health Services

Alistair Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list her Department's bilateral funding commitments to reproductive health services in each country in 2001.

Clare Short: The following table shows DFID commitments, including multi year commitments, made under the bilateral programme, to reproductive health activities, including HIV/AIDS, in 2001–02:
	
		£
		
			 Country Commitments 
		
		
			 Bangladesh 6,940,159 
			 Belarus, Republic of 150,000 
			 Burma 236,295 
			 China 150,000 
			 Congo, Dem Rep 379,248 
			 Ethiopia 300,000 
			 Ghana 60,000,000 
			 India 499,750 
			 Kenya 3,500,000 
			 Malawi 30,922,100 
			 Moldova, Republic of 150,000 
			 Mongolia 250,000 
			 Montserrat 538,953 
			 Mozambique 10,340,000 
			 Nigeria 158,609 
			 Pakistan 4,380,052 
			 Peru 7,500,000 
			 Russian Federation 5,900,000 
			 Rwanda 3,000,000 
			 Senegal 250,000 
			 Sierra Leone 1,994,010 
			 South Africa, Republic of 7,717,301 
			 Sudan 220,000 
			 Tanzania 35,250,000 
			 Uganda 985,656 
			 Zambia 769,490 
			 Zimbabwe 12,915,000 
			 Total 195,396,623

World Trade Organisation

John Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make it her policy to encourage the World Trade Organisation to (a) give a higher priority to and (b) treat with greater urgency issues brought by poor countries under special and differential treatment.

Clare Short: We are giving high priority to the issue of special and differential treatment for developing countries in the WTO. An effective system of special and differential treatment is a key element in ensuring that the current round of WTO negotiations is truly a development round. Special and differential treatment needs to ensure that the implementation of WTO rules and efforts to negotiate and implement future disciplines make sense from a development perspective.
	DFID is working with other key partners such as the World bank in order to push this issue forward. As part of this on-going programme of work, DFID will be hosting a seminar on special and differential treatment on 7 March this year which will be attended by representatives of the WTO, UNCTAD, the World bank, and developing country Governments, as well as NGOs and academics working in the area.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Airport Policing

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland why PSNI officers are not permanently stationed at Belfast City Airport; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: The Police Service of Northern Ireland are not employed in an overt policing role at any airport in Northern Ireland, including Belfast City Airport. The provision of armed police at Belfast City Airport is currently being considered by Belfast City Airport.

Energy (Northern Ireland) Order 2003

David Burnside: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will confirm whether there will be a difference in the treatment of gas pipeline companies involved in gas transportation for Northern Ireland whose pipelines would be designated under the Energy (Northern Ireland) Order 2003.

Ian Pearson: All discussions to date with interested parties regarding the postalisation of gas conveyance charges in Northern Ireland have been conducted in an open and transparent manner. All future issues pertaining to the designation of pipelines and the implementation of postalisation will be dealt with in the same manner. In implementing postalisation, the Department will of course comply with its legal obligations including those under Community Law such as Article 3, paragraph 1 of Directive 98/30EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 June 1998 concerning common rules for the internal market in natural gas, which requires Member States not to discriminate between natural gas undertakings such as pipeline operators as regards either rights or obligations.

Firefighters' Dispute

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the impact of the firefighters' dispute in Northern Ireland.

Des Browne: Throughout the periods of industrial action by the Fire Brigades Union, the emergency fire cover service provided by the armed forces, supported by the police service for Northern Ireland and the retained firefighters who were not on strike, was able to deal effectively with all major fire-related and road traffic incidents. The armed forces operated well within capacity and there were no major disruptions to transport or other essential public services as a result of the dispute.
	Although there were a number of road traffic fatalities and two fire-related deaths during the strikes, there are no indications that any of these deaths could have been avoided had normal fire cover been available.
	We have always maintained that the alternative fire arrangements provided by the armed forces cannot replicate the normal firefighting capability. I therefore welcome the Fire Brigades Union decision not to set any new strike dates and to again engage in a fresh round of negotiations at the National Joint Council under the auspices of ACAS, to find a negotiated and fair settlement to this dispute.

Fisheries

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much money was made available through the 2002 Northern Ireland fishing vessel decommissioning scheme; how many applications were received; how many successful applicants decommissioned their vessels; how many successful applicants declined decommissioning; how much of the available funding is left; and if he will allocate remaining funds to the original bidders who were unsuccessful in their application to the scheme.

Ian Pearson: The information is as follows: (1) Under the Fishing Vessel Decommissioning Scheme (Northern Ireland) 2001 £5 million was made available for vessel decommissioning; 66 applications were received; 27 successful applicants have decommissioned their vessels and a further two successful applicants have accepted the offer of decommissioning grant; six successful applicants have declined decommissioning grant; and £0.6million of available funding is left.
	(2) I have recently announced a new decommissioning scheme, whose terms and conditions will take account of those applying elsewhere in the United Kingdom. It is not my intention at this time to make any further offers under the existing scheme.

Foundation Hospitals

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to accord foundation status to hospitals in Northern Ireland.

Des Browne: I have no plans at present to extend NHS Foundation Trusts to Northern Ireland.

Linguistic Diversity

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the draft linguistic diversity policy of the National Museums and Galleries of Northern Ireland was completed for submission to the Chief Executive.

Angela Smith: The Chief Executive of the National Museums and Galleries of Northern Ireland has been actively involved in the development of the draft linguistic diversity policy from an early stage. It is therefore the members of the Board of Trustees rather than the Chief Executive to whom the draft policy is submitted.
	A first draft was prepared in 1999, but it soon became clear that more work was required, and the Trustees agreed to set up a small working group to take the matter forward. The outgoing Trustees did not have an opportunity to consider the next draft before the end of their term of office in June 2002. Since then, some further detailed work has been carried out, and it is hoped that the new Board will be able to consider and formally adopt the new draft shortly.

Nurse Recruitment

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on nurse recruitment in Northern Ireland during each of the last three years.

Des Browne: Recruitment of qualified nursing staff is a matter for HSS Trusts as employers. In recognition of recruitment difficulties, the number of pre-registration nurse training places was increased from 580 to 680 in 2001 and from 680 to 750 in 2002.
	The number of qualified nurses and midwifes employed in the HPSS as at 31 December 2000, 2001 and 2002 was 13,607, 13,645 and 14,670 respectively.
	There are currently 1,863 pre-registration nursing students with another 160 expected to commence training next month.

Public Liability Insurance

Martin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the number of insurance underwriters prepared to quote for public liability insurance for charities working with children in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

Des Browne: There have been a number of reports within the Northern Ireland voluntary and community sector of significant increases in relation to public liability insurance costs. There have also been reports stating that organisations perceived by insurers to represent a greater risk, include groups involving children. I understand that there have been reports throughout the United Kingdom.
	To date no assessment has been made of insurance brokers prepared to quote for charities working with children in Northern Ireland. Representatives from the voluntary and community sector are still gathering details of the extent of the problem faced by the sector as a whole in Northern Ireland. This information will be provided in due course to the Joint Government Voluntary and Community Sector Forum. The information will then be relayed to officials in Great Britain who are responsible for this matter on a UK wide basis.

Red Button Alert Device

Martin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much was distributed through the Social Fund for the red button alert device scheme in Northern Ireland in each year since 2000; how many people have a red button alert device; what plans he has to increase free provision of the red button alert device for pensioners; and what plans he has to update the red button alert device technology.

Des Browne: Information is not available on the value of Social Fund payments which have been made in respect of the red button alert device. The Social Security Agency has specific arrangements in place with groups in the voluntary sector who represent pensioner interests to ensure that requests for help to purchase this particular device are dealt with promptly.
	At this time there are no plans to increase free provision of the red button alert devices. As the device is not the responsibility of the Department we do not hold information regarding the updating of the technology.
	Where the provision of the red button alert device forms part of an assessed care management package the cost may be funded from the relevant Health and Social Services Trust's budget.

PRIVY COUNCIL

Ministerial Cars

Brian H Donohoe: To ask the President of the Council 
	(1)  what progress has been made in the last three years in replacing (a) his and (b) his predecessor's ministerial car on a lower emission basis; and what type of (i) power unit and (ii) fuel each car used by him and his predecessor in the course of his ministerial duties used;
	(2)  at what annual rate he or his predecessor has replaced his ministerial car in the course of the last three years.

Robin Cook: The information requested is as follows:
	
		
			   Present car  Previous car(1) 
			 Minister Date changed(2) Power unit (litre) Fuel used Power unit (litre) Fuel used 
		
		
			 Robin Cook MP 22 October 2002 2.6 Unleaded 2.5 Unleaded 
			 Ben Bradshaw MP 17 April 2002 2.0 Unleaded 1.8 Unleaded 
		
	
	(1) Inherited from predecessor.
	(2) Only such change in the past three years.
	Both past and present ministerial cars were leased under an agreement with the Government Car Service (GCS). The types of car provided followed the "Prime Minister's guidance on travel by Ministers".
	GCS recognises that reducing vehicle omissions is a key transport issue and a Government priority. Against a baseline of 2002–03, GCS aims by 31 March 2006 to reduce road transport vehicle carbon dioxide emissions by at least 10 per cent. and to require at least 10 per cent. of fleet cars to be alternatively fuelled. Moreover, the Deputy Leader and I both endeavour to use public transport, cycle or walk, where value for money and time constraints permit.

CABINET OFFICE

Computer Crime

Paul Burstow: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many cases of computer (a) hacking, (b) fraud and (c) theft his Department recorded in 2001–02; and on how many occasions computer systems have been illegally accessed by computer hackers (i) within and (ii) outside his Department.

Douglas Alexander: Within my Department and its Agencies during 2001–02 there have been no cases of computer hacking from (i) within or (ii) outside and no instances of fraudulent use of computers although there has been one theft in 2001–02.

Electricity

Norman Baker: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what changes in unit payments for electricity have resulted from the switch by his Department to purchasing renewable energy which is exempt from the Climate Change Levy.

Douglas Alexander: The switch to purchasing Climate Change Levy exempt renewable energy has resulted in a 2.14 per cent. (average) increase in cost.
	In view of the considerable contribution to the ENV (G) target and associated CO2 savings, Cabinet Office agreed to pay the additional cost to secure a 12 month contract for the supply of electricity from entirely renewable sources to three buildings on its central London estate. This contract came into effect on 1 October 2002.

Entertainment Expenditure

David Laws: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what reasons underlie the change in his Department's entertainment expenditure between 1998–99 and 2001–02; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: The increase in entertainment expenditure between 1998–99 to 2001–02 is mainly a result of the Cabinet Office's widening span of responsibilities in recent years and Machinery of Government changes. There has been a corresponding rise in necessary entertainment expenditure by an increased staff resource. All expenditure is in accordance with published departmental guidance on financial procedures and propriety based on the principles set out in Government Accounting.

LORD CHANCELLOR

Court Video Links

Geraint Davies: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if she will provide additional funding to extend the use of live links to enable witnesses other than the defendant to give evidence through a live link in criminal proceedings.

Yvette Cooper: Video link equipment is used in the Crown and magistrates' courts for two purposes: to enable defendants held in custody to participate in pre-trial hearings without having to attend court; and to allow vulnerable or intimidated witnesses to give evidence from outside the courtroom.
	All Crown Court centres have TV link equipment, which allows witnesses to give evidence from outside the courtroom but within the court building. 12 Crown Court centres have video conferencing facilities, which allow witnesses to give evidence from a remote location. In addition, equipment linking courtrooms with specific vulnerable and intimidated witness rooms will be installed in 29 Crown Court centres by the end of 2003. This equipment will also allow witnesses to give evidence from a remote location.
	133 vulnerable and intimidated witness rooms had been installed in magistrates' courts by the end of September 2002. Work is currently under way to establish the number of additional video links that are required to meet current and future demand. The Court Service will then liaise with Criminal Justice System partners, including the Crown Prosecution Service and the Home Office, on how to take this forward.

Court Video Links

Geraint Davies: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what measures her Department is putting in place to ensure that the waiting time for child witnesses is kept to a minimum where the use of a live link is required.

Yvette Cooper: Crown and magistrates' courts ensure that priority is given to cases involving children or other vulnerable or intimidated witnesses. Courts offer fixed dates for trial at the earliest possible opportunity, subject to the readiness and availability of those involved in the case. Additional video links are being installed in the Crown Courts during 2003. The provision of equipment in the magistrates' courts is now under review to ensure that current and future demand is met, as far as funding allows.

Capital Projects

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if she will place the evaluations for Capital Modernisation Fund projects in the Lord Chancellor's Department since 1998 in the Library; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: The Department received funding for three projects from the Capital Modernisation Fund for a range of initiatives contributing towards modernisation in the courts. As the projects have not concluded, a full evaluation report is not yet available.

Computer Crime

Paul Burstow: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many cases of computer (a) hacking, (b) fraud and (c) theft her Department recorded in 2001–02; and on how many occasions computer systems have been illegally accessed by computer hackers (i) within and (ii) outside her Department.

Rosie Winterton: The number of cases of computer hacking, fraud and theft recorded by my Department in 2001–02 is: computer (a) hacking—2; (b) fraud—0; (c) theft—25. Illegal access by computer hackers in 2001–02 (i) within the Department—1; (ii) outside the Department—1. Neither of the hacking incidents caused damage to the Departmental computer systems.

Domestic Violence

Michael Connarty: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what steps her Department is taking to inform victims of domestic violence of their rights.

Rosie Winterton: The Government remain committed to tackling domestic violence. My Department's main responsibility is to make sure that victims of domestic violence have a swift and effective route to protection and perpetrators of violence are brought to justice.
	We were involved in the production of the Law Society's "Family Law Protocol", which covers best practice in all aspects of private family law disputes, including domestic abuse. One of the many actions we are currently taking is to look at good examples of inter-agency working at local level, from which we shall produce a template of good practice.
	I have set up a Domestic Violence Advisory Group that consists of people from voluntary organisations, lay magistrates, judges and police officers. We use these experts to make sure that our policies have a real impact in improving the lives of the families who suffer as a result of domestic violence.
	The Community Legal Service (CLS) Just Ask! website provides on-line CLS leaflets and an up-to-date CLS Directory of legal suppliers, including solicitors, law centres and Citizens Advice Bureaux within England and Wales. The site also provides legal information in different languages and an Advice Search function so that users can search for legal information and advice from a selection of about 300 screened and approved sites. The Legal Services Commission produces a "Divorce and Separation" leaflet which gives information about further help and contacts. The LSC have plans to produce a new leaflet specifically covering domestic violence which they hope will be available in the summer.

Domestic Violence

Margaret Moran: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department 
	(1)  when she plans to consult on new guidance in respect of child contact and domestic violence;
	(2)  when the second survey of guidelines on domestic violence and contact will be available; and if she will place a copy in the Library.

Rosie Winterton: The report on the second survey to monitor the "Children Act Sub-Committee Guidelines for Good Practice on Parental Contact in Cases where there is Domestic Violence" will be available at the end of March 2003. A copy will be laid in the Library of both Houses. No other recent guidance in respect of child contact and domestic violence has been issued.

E-mail Addresses

Tim Yeo: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department by what e-mail address members of the public may contact (a) The Lord Chancellor and (b) each of the Ministers in her Department; and for each e-mail address if she will state (i) the date it became active and (ii) the number of e-mails received in each month since activation.

Yvette Cooper: Members of the public may contact the Lord Chancellor and each of the Ministers in his Department via the following e-mail addresses:
	LordChancellor@lcdhq.gsi.gov.uk (this e-mail address became active on 6 January 1999);
	Baroness.Scotland@lcdhq.gsi.gov.uk (active from 12 June 2001);
	Rosie.Winterton@lcdhq.gsi.gov.uk (active from 12 June 2001);
	Yvette.Cooper@lcdhq.gsi.gov.uk (active from 29 May 2002).
	It has not proved possible, in the time available, to collate information on the volume of e-mails which have been received by each e-mail address since activation. However this information is being collated and I will write to the hon. Member with the information shortly.

External Consultancies

David Laws: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how much (a) his Department and (b) each agency and non-departmental public body spent on external consultancy in each year from 1995–96 to 2002–03 (planned); and if he will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: The information available (1995–96 to 2001–02) is provided in the table.
	A record of planned expenditure for the current financial year is not held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. Information relating to actual spend will be collated early in the next financial year.
	The level of expenditure in recent years with external consultants is explained by a wide-ranging and fast paced programme of change, designed to modernise and increase efficiency, provide better customer service, and value for money.
	Delivering such a programme has necessitated the use of external expertise to supplement internal resources.
	
		£
		
			 Department 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 
		
		
			  
			 Lord Chancellor's 1,235,732 397,662 377,522 827,891 926,893 1,444,381 2,548,064 
			 Agencies
			 Court Service 552,064 690,802 341,197 362,975 996,949 1,167,030 3,997,630 
			 Land Registry (3)— 449,710 482,320 1,026,000 722,681 1,049,458 1,755,136 
			 Public Records Office (3)— 532,000 1,027,762 1,111,427 1,356,634 1,031,485 757,828 
			 Public Guardianship Office (3)— 69,281 230,500 273,233 101,447 810,000 2,162,000 
			 NDPBs
			 Legal Services Commission 44,429 59,691 125,550 60,777 66,540 91,002 47,388 
			 CAFCASS (4)— (4)— (4)— (4)— (4)— 334,488 1,276,596 
		
	
	(3) No information available.
	(4) Prior to establishment.

Transsexual People

Lynne Jones: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if the Government will make it their policy to use the powers under Section 10 and Schedule 2 to the Human Rights Act 1998 to bring UK legislation in line with the decision of the European Court of Human Rights in Goodwin and I v UK (judgment of 11 July 2002); and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: As I announced on 13 December and in my written ministerial statement on 16 December, Official Report, column 36WS, the Government are committed to legislating as soon as possible to give transsexual people their Convention rights. We have decided against using a Remedial Order under the Human Rights Act because the Convention issues go beyond identifying possible incompatibilities with current law. The necessary response is so wide-ranging that only a Bill would be appropriate. I have corresponded on this subject with the Joint Committee on Human Rights, which agrees that proceeding by way of a Bill is the only proper approach in the circumstances.
	We are therefore taking forward work towards a draft Bill which we hope it will be possible to publish during the course of this session of Parliament.

Heritage and Antique Assets

David Laws: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what sales of heritage assets and antique assets have been made by his Department since May 1997; if he will list such assets; and if he will estimate the total sales proceeds.

Yvette Cooper: The Department's current fixed asset register came into being in April 1999 and it confirms that no operational heritage or antique assets have been sold since that date. Prior to April 1999 we have no specific records on heritage or antique asset disposals. However, it has never been my department's policy to dispose of such assets.

Access to Justice (Homeless People)

Michael Connarty: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what action has been taken to improve legal access and representation to homeless people.

Rosie Winterton: Through the ongoing development of the Community Legal Service (CLS), the Legal Services Commission (LSC) is working to improve access to justice in England and Wales for all. In addition to the £734 million spent in total last year on civil legal aid, the LSC has introduced a variety of initiatives to improve access to legal advice and meet the representation needs of the socially excluded including a number aimed specifically at those with housing problems, and the homeless. These include a pilot project funding duty schemes in the county courts to cover housing possession cases; and spending £2 million per year on a telephone advice pilot under which several housing advice services are providing legal help. We are also working to integrate the CLS into a number of cross Government initiatives on tackling social exclusion and working closely with other Departments to increase the number of quality marked outlets for CLS information. At a regional level, CLS Partnerships have also helped to improve access to legal help through grants from the Partnership Innovation Budget and joint work with Local Strategic Partnerships.

Legal Services (Consumer Choice)

Michael Connarty: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what progress has been made in increasing consumer choice in legal services.

Rosie Winterton: In April 1998, the Institute of Legal Executives joined the Bar Council and the Law Society as an authorised body in its own right and as a fully fledged part of the legal profession, in November 1999, the Chartered Institute of Patent Agents was similarly designated. These developments represent a small but important increase in the number of people qualified to appear before the courts, widening the availability of legal services to the public. Reform of the law relating to conditional fees agreements has also allowed innovative products to be developed which have increased the funding options available to individuals with winnable cases.
	The Government remains keen to remove restrictive practices not in the public interest. The removal of such practices could provide an incentive for lawyers, or other providers, to introduce innovative, high quality and affordable services to the public. In most cases, open and competitive markets are the best way to ensure that consumers get the best possible service, while continuing to protect consumers and ensuring probity. The Government has consulted on matters that fall to it following on from the Office of Fair Trading's report on competition in professions. We are currently considering the responses to that consultation.

Lord Chancellor (Income)

Norman Baker: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what the total income from public funds of the Lord Chancellor has been for each year from 1 May 1997, broken down by (a) salary and (b) expenses claimed.

Rosie Winterton: The Lord Chancellor's annual salary during the period in question and from the date shown in each case was as follows:
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 1 April 1997 140,665 
			 1 December 1997 142,506 
			 1 April 1998 148,850 
			 1 December 1998 151,002 
			 1 April 1999 160,011 
			 1 April 2000 167,760 
			 1 April 2001 173,875 
			 1 April 2002 180,045 
		
	
	Under section 3 of the Ministerial and other Pensions and Salaries Act 1991 and the Ministerial and Other Salaries Order 1996 the Lord Chancellor's salary is set at £2,500 more than the salary of the Lord Chief Justice for England and Wales. In a recently published report the Senior Salaries Review Body (the SSRB) stated that it was proposing to review the relationship between judicial salaries and those of the Senior Civil Service. The Lord Chancellor has asked that this review be extended to cover the statutory relationship between his own salary and that of the Lord Chief Justice.
	The Department's Ministers do not have personal expense accounts. Costs incurred by Ministers, in the course of their official duties, are met by the Department. Occasionally, Ministers pay such costs themselves and are then reimbursed, rather than having them billed direct to the Department. Since 1 May 1997, the Lord Chancellor has paid, and been reimbursed for, the following amounts. These costs were incurred in furtherance of departmental objectives including, for example, the provision of hospitality to overseas judges.
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 1997–98 0 
			 1998–99 149.71 
			 1999–2000 1,113.49 
			 2000–01 159.91 
			 2001–02 0 
			 2002–03 1,033.19

Marriage and Relationship Support

Adrian Flook: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if the Marriage and Relationship Support branch of the Department will include the use of pre and post marital psychometric inventories as part of the criteria for considering bids for LCD grants.

Rosie Winterton: The criteria currently used for evaluating bids received in 2002 for funding in 2003–04 are derived from recommendations set out in the strategy document "Moving Forward Together", published by the Lord Chancellor's Advisory Group on Marriage and Relationship Support ("AGMARS") in April 2002: and also from wider Government objectives to support the family and children.
	No decisions have yet been taken over the criteria which will be applied in the next MARS bid round, which is schedules from launch in Summer 2003. Inclusion of specific criteria in the next bid round will depend on the extent to which they can assist in achieving the strategic objectives of AGMARS and/or the wider Government family policy objectives.

Marriage and Relationship Support

Adrian Flook: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what proportion of, and how many, grants given by the Marriage and Relationship Support branch of the Department in each year since 1997 were to organisations that use psychometric testing on their clients.

Rosie Winterton: Information on the details of Marriage and Relationship Support ("MARS") grant funding since 1997 is not held centrally in sufficient detail to be able to provide a substantive response to this question. A number of relationship support service providers who have received—or are currently receiving—MARS funding from the Department use various models of psychometric testing as part of their couple support work.

Marriage and Relationship Support

Michael Connarty: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what recent assistance his Department has given to Relate to strengthen family relationships.

Rosie Winterton: We have paid the following core and project funds to Relate, from the annual Marriage and Relationship Support grant fund, in the last three financial years;
	
		£000
		
			  Core Project 
		
		
			 2000–01 2,053 344 
			 2002–02 2,104 281 
			 2002–03 2,104 102 
		
	
	All MARS funding made to Relate helps to deliver the overarching objective of strengthening adult couple relationships—a key element of strengthening family relationships more widely. Support for relationships can make a significant contribution to reducing relationship breakdown and its adverse impact, especially on children.

Public Guardianship Office

Paul Burstow: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many outstanding items of casework there were at the Public Guardianship Office in the last four quarters.

Rosie Winterton: At the end of April 2002 there were 15,356 outstanding items of casework, at the end of July 15,580, at the end of October 6,510 and at the end of January 3,637.

Solicitors (Complaints)

Mr. Gareth Thomas: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many complaints the Department received about the performance of solicitors in each of the last five years; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: I would refer my hon. Friend to my answers on 15 March 2002 to his earlier questions, Official Report, column 1282W. I also refer him to the statement that was made on 30 January 2003, Official Report, column 174W, informing the House that the Lord Chancellor had appointed Dr. Zahida Manzoor as Legal Services Ombudsman.

Special Advisers and Press Officers

David Laws: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many (a) special advisers and (b) press officers have been employed by his Department in each year from 1994–95 to 2002–03; and at what cost in each year.

Rosie Winterton: In relation to (a), I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Minister of State for the Cabinet Office (Mr. Alexander), on 31 January 2003, Official Report, column 1056W.
	With regard to (b), the number of press officers employed by the Lord Chancellor's Department and Court Service since 1994 is as follows:
	
		
			  Press Officers Paybill (£) 
		
		
			 1994–95 to 1998–99 3 not available 
			 1999–2000 3 146,558 
			 2000–01 5 152,840 
			 2001–02 6 186,894 
			 2002–03 10 not yet available 
		
	
	The number of press officers does not include the Director and Deputy Director of Communications who also include media work among their responsibilities.
	The increase in numbers of press officers reflects the increasing workload of my Department, including extra responsibilities transferred to us from other Government Departments following machinery of Government changes.
	Full annual paybill figures prior to 1999–2000 are not available because press office functions were incorporated into a new group in 1998 and the Department changed accounting systems.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Capital Projects

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will place the evaluations for Capital Modernisation Fund projects since 1998 in the Library; and if he will make a statement.

Ian McCartney: The Capital Modernisation Fund provides capital funding for innovative projects which will deliver genuine improvements in public services. It is a requirement of receiving this funding that the Department has robust arrangements in place for the implementing, monitoring and final evaluation of these projects.
	Round 1 provided resources to develop a sophisticated IT and call centre system to match jobseekers to employers, final evaluation reports for these were produced in July 2002 and have subsequently been placed in the Library.
	Round 2 provided funding for an electronic claim form and telecentre costs to deliver the Minimum Income Guarantee. Initiatives within MIG are awaiting evaluation reports and will be placed in the Library in due course.
	Round 3 provided funding for WORKSTEP, a project to provide support in work to disabled people facing complex barriers to working. This project is ongoing and due for completion in 2003–04.
	Round 4 provided funding for three projects, Interactive e Services, Modernising Appeals and Transport and Worklessness. These projects are all in the very early stages and as such have not yet reached the evaluation process.
	When the rounds are completed the Department is committed to placing the evaluation reports in the Library in due course.

Departmental Vehicles

Jonathan Sayeed: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the annual rate is at which his Department and its agencies renew their vehicle fleets, by (a) volume and (b) percentage for each (i) category of vehicle, (ii) type of power unit, and (iii) type of fuel.

Ian McCartney: Petrol and Alternatively Fuelled vehicles are replaced when they have covered 80,000 miles, are four-years-old or when they become financially non viable to retain, which ever comes first.
	Diesel vehicles are replaced when they have covered 100,000 miles, are four-years-old or when they become financially non viable to retain, whichever comes first.
	The percentage of vehicle replaced each year depends on the size of the fleet that continually fluctuates in line with essential business needs.
	There is a continual audit and review of fleet requirements based on the daily usage and mileage covered by all our vehicles. The overall size of the fleet has been reduced by 382 vehicles compared to the fleet of the former Department for Social Security and the former Employment Service in April 2001.

Entertainment Expenditure

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his estimate is of the total spending of his Department on entertainment in each year from 1994–95 to 2002–03; and if he will make a statement.

Ian McCartney: All expenditure on official entertainment is made in accordance with published departmental guidance on financial procedures and propriety, based on the principles set out in Government Accounting.
	It is not possible to provide expenditure figures back to 1994–95 for the Department for Work and Pensions as it was only created with effect from 1 April 2001. The figures for 2001–02 and 2002–03, therefore, are the only expenditure figures relating to the Department for Work and Pensions.
	In order to provide figures which are reasonably comparable, information for the earlier years has been provided by combining expenditure on "official hospitality" by the former Department of Social Security, and on "official entertainment" by the former Employment Service (ES) which, together with relatively small numbers of staff from the Employment Policy Divisions of the former Department for Education and Employment (DfEE), combined to form the new Department for Work and Pensions. However, information on entertainment expenditure by ES is only available from 1996–97 onwards, whereas expenditure by the former DfEE Policy Divisions is not separately identifiable.
	Estimated expenditure on this basis is set out as follows:
	
		
			  £ Department 
		
		
			 1994–95 127,000 DSS 
			 1995–96 100,000 DSS 
			 1996–97 147,000 DSS and ES 
			 1997–98 46,000 DSS and ES 
			 1998–99 86,000 DSS and ES 
			 1999–2000 327,000 DSS and ES 
			 2000–01 127,000 DSS and ES 
			 2001–02 155,000 DWP 
			 2002–03 100,000 DWP (Estimated outturn) 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures rounded to the nearest £000.
	2. Expenditure for the 2002–03 financial year represents estimated outturn.

New Deal

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he plans to adopt the definition of New Deal achievement proposed by the Select Committee on Work and Pensions at paragraph 55 of its Third Report of 2001–02; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Brown: The sustainability of jobs is one of a number of key measures we already use to analyse the success of the New Deal programmes.
	Up to September 2002, 313,700 New Deal clients had moved into jobs lasting 13 weeks or more. The programme is continuing to help significant numbers of disadvantaged young people into work. Many of these have moved into jobs more quickly and have stayed there longer than they would have done without the New Deal.
	We are building on this success, developing further measures to help even more young people to move into sustained jobs. We have introduced initiatives such as progress2work and StepUP to provide more assistance for those who face the greatest barriers to work. We are piloting post employment mentoring support to increase job retention and we are testing tailored pathways to help young people use the New Deal Options more flexibly and move into sustained jobs.

New Deal

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many New Deal for Disabled People job brokers are active; and how many have stopped offering their services since the programme went nationwide;
	(2)  how much the New Deal for Disabled People job brokers receive for placing a disabled person into work for six months or more;
	(3)  what advice is available to New Deal for Disabled People job brokers on cost-effective ways to attract new clients.

Nick Brown: We believe that disabled people should be provided with the same opportunities as everyone else. New Deal for Disabled People enables those with a health condition or disability to find and move into work and to help themselves become, and remain, more independent.
	A network of Job Brokers across Great Britain are providing support and services to people on incapacity benefits who want to participate. The aim is to achieve lasting paid employment for people with health conditions and disabilities.
	There are currently 60 Job Brokers delivering New Deal for Disabled People. Of the 66 Job Brokers who were originally contracted, six have withdrawn from their contracts for a variety of reasons. Consequently, some of the existing Job Brokers have extended their provision so as to ensure national coverage.
	Job Brokers have access to a variety of advice and support in marketing their services to new customers. In particular there is a Job Broker website which provides details of marketing tools and techniques and information on how best to maximise opportunities to place customers in work.
	Job Brokers individually negotiate prices for successfully delivering the New Deal for Disabled People reflecting their operational processes, business assumptions and local labour market conditions. They receive a payment for customers who remain in work for 26 weeks out of 39 following a job entry. The average payment is £1,274.

New Deal

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what research he has (a) commissioned and (b) received into the reasons why new deal participants eligible for new deal photocards failed to take up the scheme; if he will place it in the Library; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  pursuant to his answer of 17 December 2002, Official Report, columns 773–74W, on New Deal photocards, by what means the reduced rail fare scheme is brought to the attention of New Deal participants at the initial interview with their personal adviser; what forms are required to be completed in order to apply for the photocard; and if the reduced fares applies to all rail travel or only to that connected with the New Deal.

Nick Brown: Up to November 2002, over 129,000 photocards had been issued to New Deal participants, helping them reduce the cost of travelling to job interviews and getting to work in the early days of a new job. Take up of the scheme has risen greatly since its launch, with the number of photocards issued growing by more than a third on average each quarter.
	New Deal personal advisers are responsible for ensuring that all eligible New Deal participants are aware of the reduced rail fares offer. They issue to the New Deal client, either with the first New Deal invitation letter or at the first Gateway interview: an Association of Train Operating Companies Fact Sheet; an application form; and the terms and conditions of the offer. The personal adviser will also inform the participant that two passport-sized photographs should be submitted with the completed application form, and that the photocard is valid for up to three calendar months (after which repeat applications can be made). Photocards should only be used for rail travel connected with the New Deal.
	The Department has not commissioned any research on the take up of the New Deal Reduced Rail Fare Scheme.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Adjudication Panel

Nick Gibb: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the relevant qualifications are of Mr. Angus Andrew for holding the post of Chairman of the Adjudication Panel for England.

Rosie Winterton: I have been asked to reply.
	Chairmen of the Adjudication Panel are drawn from a pool of part-time Legal Members of the Adjudication Panel for England.
	The qualification for appointment is a five-year general qualification as defined in section 71 of the Court and Legal Services Act 1990. Solicitors had to appear on the Roll of Solicitors in order to qualify.
	Part-time Legal Members of the Adjudication Panel for England are appointed by the Lord Chancellor following open competition and after consultation with the Secretary of State. Mr Angus Andrew met the qualification, and was appointed on 12 February 2002.

HEALTH

Ambulance Service

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many hoax calls the Ambulance Service has received in the last 12 months for which figures are available in (a) Greater London and (b) England.

David Lammy: This information is not collected centrally.

Ambulance Service

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many ambulances are owned by TENYAS; and how many were fully operational in each of the past 12 months;
	(2)  (a) how many fully equipped ambulances there were in TENYAS, (b) how many ambulances there were in TENYAS per 1,000 of population and (c) what the average number of ambulances per 1,000 of population was for each ambulance service in the United Kingdom in each year since 1997.

Jacqui Smith: On average, Tyne, East and North Yorkshire Ambulance Service national health service trust (TENYAS) owns up to 100 accident and emergency vehicles, together with 15 rapid response vehicles. The number of vehicles owned by TENYAS fluctuates as new vehicles become available and others await different routes of disposal, either by being sent to auction, passed on to charities or in some cases being scrapped.
	TENYAS has on average peak development of 72 fully equipped ambulances serving a population of two million. This represents on average one ambulance per head of 28,000 population. Information for the number of ambulances per 1,000 of population is not centrally available.

Ambulance Service

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what training is given to personnel manning first responder vehicles.

David Lammy: It is the responsibility of each ambulance trust to provide training for personnel manning first responder vehicles.

Ambulance Service

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his answers of 6 February, refs 95639–95642, about 999 calls made to the London Ambulance Service about people needing emergency help in another part of the country, for what reasons callers are not told that (a) the London Ambulance Service has responsibility to pass on the details of the emergency to the ambulance service in the area concerned and (b) that this can and will be done.

David Lammy: holding answer 11 February 2003
	The 999 system is designed to put callers in touch with the emergency services locally. If an ambulance service receives a call that is outside their area then it is their responsibility to pass it on to the ambulance service in the appropriate area.
	The London Ambulance Service (LAS) believes that it may cause unnecessary confusion if 999 callers are given details of the responsibility to pass on information to other ambulance services and that such an explanation of procedures could create delays in responding to emergency calls.
	The LAS believes that an assurance that an ambulance is on its way is more important than knowing what its responsibilities are according to national control procedures. Therefore the LAS has no plans to begin informing callers of its responsibility to pass on details of an emergency to the ambulance service in the area concerned.

Age-related Macular Degeneration

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his estimate is of how many people were affected by age related macular degeneration in each of the last six years.

David Lammy: The Department does not hold centrally details of the number of people with age related macular degeneration. However, a study sponsored by the Macular Disease Society in 2001 estimated that there were 182,000 people with age related macular degeneration with a best eye visual acuity below that judged appropriate for certification as blind or partially sighted.

Beta Interferon

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of how consultant (a) neurologists and (b) specialist nurses in post have coped with implementing the prescription plus monitoring scheme for beta interferons; and whether further resources will be made available to facilitate the scheme;
	(2)  by what date everyone with MS who is eligible for beta interferons will have received these drugs under the prescription plus monitoring scheme; and how many people potentially eligible for the drug have received it.

David Lammy: We do not hold detailed information about the local implementation of the scheme, but a survey of strategic health authorities conducted last autumn showed that services were being developed to initiate treatment under the scheme. Funding is included in primary care trust general allocations, which on average are increasing by more than 9 per cent. in cash terms over each of the next three years.
	It is the intention to complete recruitment of patients to the scheme within 18 months of the scheme being initiated by centres.

Capita

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many meetings (a) he, (b) Ministers of State, (c) Parliamentary Under-Secretaries of State, (d) special advisers, and (e) officials have had with Capita employees and members of the Capita board since May 2001; what was discussed at each meeting; who attended; and if he will make a statement.

David Lammy: As with previous Administrations and in line with exemption 7 of the "Code of Practice on Access to Government Information", it is not this Government's normal practice to release details of specific meetings or their content, as some of these discussions may have taken place on a confidential basis.
	All such contacts are conducted in accordance with the rules set out in the "Ministerial Code" the "Civil Service Code", and "Guidance for Civil Servants: Contacts with Lobbyists". Copies of these documents are available in the Library.

Capital Projects

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place in the Library the evaluations for the Capital Modernisation Fund projects relating to (a) modernising coronary heart disease, (b) A&E and primary modernisation, (c) action on cataracts, (d) meningitis vaccinations, (e) decontamination and (f) NHS LIFT PPPs; and if he will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: Of the six Department of Health Treasury Capital Modernisation Fund (TCMF) projects that you have identified, only five are capital investment projects.
	The meningitis vaccination programme, whilst financed by TCMF cash, consisted exclusively of vaccinations and we have no plans to evaluate it.
	The Action on Cataracts project is complete and the "good practice" it generated and a full evaluation report is expected to be published on the "Action On" website at www.modern.nhs.uk/action-on later this year. Once it is available, a copy will also be placed in the Library.
	The remaining projects are currently incomplete. Once they are complete, they will be subjected to thorough post project evaluation, to ensure that any lessons learned are applied to other projects.

Care Homes

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place in the Library a copy of the standard letter that was sent to care homes who failed to pass on the free nursing care payment onto residents; and how many have been sent.

Jacqui Smith: The Department has not issued a standard letter to care homes.

Care Homes

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he plans to lay the Statutory Instrument that amends the regulations to extend the time limit for staff who were employed in care homes immediately before April 2002 for obtaining checks from the Criminal Records Bureau.

Jacqui Smith: We are currently finalising the details of the changes to the regulations and we plan to lay the necessary statutory instrument shortly.

Child Protection

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the retention rates are for child protection social workers employed in each social services department in England in the last three years; and what this represents as a percentage of total staff in that area of work on the fully staffed pay rate.

Jacqui Smith: We do not hold central information on retention rates for social workers employed in each of the social services departments in England.

Child Protection

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what extra training is to be implemented for social services departments child protection social workers in how to deal with abusive and intimidating parents and guardians of children deemed at risk.

Jacqui Smith: I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave him on 7 January 2003, Official Report, column 175W.
	The National Task Force on Violence Against Social Workers recommended in 2001 that employers urgently undertook an audit of their organisation's ability to deal with violence and abuse and then did a training needs analysis for their workforce. They were then asked to prepare and begin an action plan to effect planned developments.
	Those social workers who are working with children and families should undertake the post-qualifying (PQ) child care award. This was created in 1999 to equip qualified social workers with the required level of knowledge, understanding and skills to carry out the full range of expectations and duties of contemporary children's personal social services. However, as part of the reform of social work education, the General Social Care Council (GSCC) is undertaking a review of the current framework for post-qualifying training for social work. This will include a review of the PQ child care award.
	In addition to this, the prescribed curriculum of the new social work degree includes the national occupational standards for social work, which require students to demonstrate the management of risk to individuals, families, carers, groups and communities and to assess, minimise and manage risk to self and colleagues.

Child Protection

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance his Department has issued to local authority social services departments regarding the recruitment of child protection social workers from abroad; and if he will make a statement on the policy of recruiting social workers involved in child protection from abroad.

Jacqui Smith: Guidance has not been issued to local authority social services departments regarding the recruitment of social workers from abroad. Qualified social workers from abroad who wish to work in this country register with the General Social Care Council, who validate their qualification.
	It is the responsibility of individual employing agencies to ensure that their recruitment policies and procedures comply with current legislation whether recruiting within England or abroad.

Child Protection

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many child protection social workers recruited from abroad work in local authority social services departments in England.

Jacqui Smith: We do not hold data centrally on social workers recruited from abroad. Qualified social workers from abroad who wish to work in this country register with the General Social Care Council, who validate their qualification.

Child Protection

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action has been taken to investigate claims during the Victoria Climbié Inquiry that unaccompanied child refugees were placed in bed and breakfast accommodation by Brent Social Services.

Jacqui Smith: Giving evidence on Friday 12 October 2001 to the Victoria Climbié Inquiry, Mr. Turner, QC for the London Borough of Brent, made clear that Brent Social Services had a clear policy of not placing unaccompanied children under the age of 16 in bed and breakfast accommodation. At that time, the local authority also undertook a check on the actual position and reported to the inquiry that no such children were placed in such accommodation.
	The Social Services Inspectorate has, this month, confirmed with Brent that this continues to be the case in practice.

Child Protection

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the compatibility of the confidentiality considerations contained in the Data Protection Act 1998 and the sharing of information about vulnerable children between agencies recommended by Lord Laming.

Jacqui Smith: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health, has said that we will consider Lord Laming's recommendations carefully and will publish a full response to the report in the spring.
	Further, we plan to publish guidance to the national health service in September 2003 on patient confidentiality issues, including those relating to the Data Protection Act 1998.

Child Protection

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to issue the guidance on information-sharing, as recommended in the Victoria Climbié Inquiry recommendation 16.

Jacqui Smith: My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health, has said that we will consider the report's recommendations carefully and will publish a full response in the Spring.
	Independently of Lord Laming's recommendation, we plan to publish guidance to the National Health Service in September 2003 on patient confidentiality issues including those relating to Data Protection Act 1998.

Clinical Negligence White Paper

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will publish the White Paper on Clinical Negligence Reform.

David Lammy: The Chief Medical Officer, Professor Sir Liam Donaldson, is working up a comprehensive report for the Government outlining options for reforming the present system for handling clinical negligence claims, which aims to make the system fairer for all those who suffer injury through negligent National Health Service service. We hope to publish them shortly.

Clothing Provision (NHS Trusts)

Bob Laxton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how local NHS trusts assess the clothing needs of their long-term patients; and what procedures are in place to ensure these needs are met.

David Lammy: Trusts have a duty to ensure patient privacy and dignity is upheld at all times. This includes having arrangements in place to meet the clothing needs of all patients.
	Trusts are supported by the introduction of modern matrons—senior sisters and charge nurses who are easily identifiable to patients and who have the authority and support they need to make sure the fundamentals of care are right. Also, patient advice and liaison services are available in most trusts, to provide information and on the spot help for patients, their families and carers.

Commission for Patient and Public Involvement

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects the Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health to have its first meeting.

David Lammy: holding answer 13 February 2003
	It is for the chair of the Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health to convene the first meeting of the Commission and to set the day and place.

Commission for Patient and Public Involvement

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many staff formerly employed by community health councils will be employed within the new system of patient and public involvement.

David Lammy: holding answer 13 February 2003
	It is not possible to predict the number of community health council staff that will secure posts within the Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health, supporting patients' forums or providing independent complaints advocacy support. These posts will be advertised and recruitment to them will be subject to open and fair competition. It is for the Commission to decide its staffing requirements.

Commission for Patient and Public Involvement

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to ensure there will be a smooth transition between the abolition of community health councils and their replacement.

David Lammy: The Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health has said that it will be working towards achieving full coverage of patients' forums by the end of the year. Arrangements will be in place to ensure there is continuous support for patients through the transition.
	The new system for patient and public involvement goes beyond patients' forums.
	For example, independent complaints advocacy support for patients wanting to complain against the national health service will be available, patient advice and liaison services in trusts and primary care trusts routinely feed up patients views to trust boards, overview and scrutiny committees (OSC) have to be consulted where substantial variation and developments are planned and individuals or patient groups can approach their OSC directly where they have concerns.
	In addition, the Commission will set up a national telephone help-line, which will help people access local support arrangements.

Laptops

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many laptop computers were used by (a) Ministers and special advisers and (b) officials in his Department in each year since 1995; how many were (i) lost and (ii) stolen; what their cost was; and if he will make a statement.

David Lammy: The Department does not retain detailed, historical records of laptop ownership and is therefore not able to provide the information requested. Information is only available for the current financial year, 2002–2003.
	Ministers have one laptop each. Special advisers have one laptop each and there are approximately 2000 laptops in use by officials of the Department; a number of which are shared or 'pooled' laptops, used by a number of staff.
	The Department takes the protection of its assets very seriously and its security policy and procedures are under constant review to find ways to reduce losses.
	Figures for the numbers and cost of laptop computers lost or stolen belonging to the Department or its Executive Agencies covering financial years' 1995—96 to 2002–2003 are shown in the table.
	
		
			 Financial year Lost/stolen Cost (£) 
		
		
			 1995–96 12 27,035,90 
			 1996–97 18 29,277,45 
			 1997–98 23 43,098,68 
			 1998–99 19 40,068,70 
			 1999–2000 18 36,260.35 
			 2000–01 23 46,917.62 
			 2001–02 35 62,275.69 
			 2002 to date 26 40,997.26 
			 Total 174 325,931.65

Consultations

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list consultations his Department has conducted since 1997; and when each consultation (a) opened and (b) closed.

David Lammy: The Cabinet Office Code of Practice on Written Consultations applies to all formal national public consultation documents issued by Departments from 1 January 2001. The information requested is not comprehensively available before July 2001. Information on formal written consultations undertaken by the Department since July 2001 has been placed in the Library.

Criminal Records Bureau

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the impact of the postponement of Criminal Record Bureau checks on domiciliary care staff and the implications it has for the Protection of Vulnerable Adults List; and what systems have been put in place to ensure vulnerable adults are protected from harm or abuse in their own home.

Jacqui Smith: From 1 April this year, for the first time we are introducing regulation to the domiciliary care sector that will bring into force new requirements for employers when checking the suitability of new employees. These new requirements will add significantly to the level of protection from abuse to vulnerable adults in their own homes.
	The protection of vulnerable adults (PoVA) list will be implemented when we are confident that the CRB are able to cope with the demand. When PoVA checks are introduced they will further enhance the level of protection offered to the recipients of domiciliary care services.

Dentistry

Mr. Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether current dental qualifications from (a) South Africa, (b) Australia and (c) New Zealand are recognised for registration as a UK dental surgeon.

David Lammy: Dentists who qualified in these countries have to sit the General Dental Council's International Qualifying Examination, which was introduced in 2001, to be eligible for registration in the United Kingdom.

Dentistry

Mr. Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether dental qualifications achieved up to 1984 are recognised for registration as a UK dental surgeon; and if he will make a statement.

David Lammy: Yes, provided the qualifications are included in section 15 of the Dentists Act 1984.

Dentistry

Mr. Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many vacancies for dental surgeons are estimated to exist.

David Lammy: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply my right hon. Friend the Minister of State (Mr. Hutton) gave him on 8 January 2003, Official Report, column 276W.
	In addition to this, there may also vacancies for dentists in dental practices providing general dental services. However, these are independently owned practices and we do not have numbers of such vacancies.

Dentistry

Mr. Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what plans he has to improve the system of temporary registration as a dental surgeon; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how many opportunities for paid employment as a dental surgeon with temporary registration there are in (a) the UK and (b) London; and if he will make a statement.

David Lammy: This information is not held centrally. The General Dental Council (GDC) approves temporary registrations when a dentist from overseas finds a post where there is appropriate supervision of his or her training and developmental needs. Currently such posts are only found in dental hospitals but the Department is exploring with the GDC and dental professional bodies whether temporary registrations could be approved for dentists wishing to train in the community dental services and in primary dental care practices.

Dentistry

Richard Ottaway: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his answer of 19 December 2002, Official Report, column 1046W, what form the consultation exercise will take; if he will list consultees; when he expects the consultation to end; when in 2003 he expects to publish his draft legislation; and if he will make a statement.

David Lammy: The form of consultation is laid down in paragraph 9 of schedule 3 to the Health Act, 1999 (c.8) and involves publishing a draft of the Order amending the Dentists Act, 1984. This paragraph also lays down who must be consulted. We aim to publish the consultation document in the summer, with a closing date three months later.

Dentistry

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average ratio of NHS dentists to patients was in (a) 1997 and (b) 2000; and what the average is now in (i) England and (ii) North Yorkshire.

David Lammy: The number of general dental service (GDS) patients registered per GDS dentist in England and North Yorkshire Health Authority at 30 September 1997, 2000 and 2002 is shown in the table.
	
		General dental service: Number of patients registered per dentist(5) at 30 September 1997, 2000 and 2002 -- England and North Yorkshire Health Authority
		
			 At 30 September England North Yorkshire 
		
		
			 1997(6) 1,599 1,608 
			 2000 1,311 1,366 
			 2002 1,276 1,263 
		
	
	Note:
	1. Dentists counted more than one Health Authority have been counted only once, in the Health Authority where they carry out the majority of their treatment.
	2. Registration data for this year is not comparable with later years due to the change in the registration period.
	The number of patients that a GDS dentist sees is dependent on several factors including their amount of commitment to the GDS and the amount of treatment that their patients require.
	A patient becomes registered with a GDS dentist when that dentist accepts the patient for treatment. Registrations lapse if patients do not return to their dentists within 15 months of their last visit. The number of patients registered per dentist will exclude patients who have not been to their GDS dentist within the past 15 months.
	GDS dentists are required to provide a full range of National Health Service treatment to maintain the oral health of the patients that are registered with them for capitation (Children) or continuing care (adults).
	The 1997 registration numbers are not comparable to those for 2000 and 2002 because of the reduction in the registration period to 15 months. Previously the period for adult registrations was 24 months and children's registrations lasted until the end of the next calendar year.
	Registrations are included in the area of the dentist. The registration rates for some areas may be affected by some patients receiving their dental treatment in a different area from the one in which they live.
	Patients wishing to register with a GDS dentist for tratment can obtain details of dentists accepting new patients in their area by contacting NHS Direct.
	Patients do not need to be registered with a GDS dentist to get NHS dental treatment. The personal dental services and community dental services provide NHS dental treatment and some patients receive GDS dental treatment on an occasional basis.

Digital Hearing Aids

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how long it takes to train NHS staff to fit digital hearing aids.

Jacqui Smith: Current career grade staff working in national health service hearing aid services require approximately six days of additional training to allow them to fit digital hearing aids.

Digital Hearing Aids

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how long he estimates it will take to convert all analogue hearing aid users to digital.

Jacqui Smith: All National Health Service hearing aid services in England will be fitting digital aids by the end of March 2005. These will be provided as appropriate for all new patients and for existing hearing aid users upon review. For adults that review would not normally be less than three years from fitting of their last aid, unless their hearing has become significantlyworse in the interim. A shorter review period applies to children's services.

Domestic Violence

Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what advice is given to paramedics and accident and emergency staff as to their responsibilities if they regard injured persons they attend as victims of domestic violence;
	(2)  what training is given to paramedics and ambulance personnel in dealing with people they perceive to be the victims of domestic violence and their responsibilities of (a) confidentiality and (b) to report the commission of crime.

David Lammy: holding answers 11 February and 12 February 2003
	It is the responsibility of individual trusts to develop policies on dealing with people they perceive to be the victims of domestic violence.
	To assist individual trusts, the Department published Domestic Violence: A Resource Manual for Health Professionals two years ago. This manual sets out to increase the knowledge and understanding of health care professionals including staff in accident and emergency and ambulance trusts about the nature of domestic violence and how it is likely to be evident in the patients they care for.

Donor Transplant Operations

Peter Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice he has sought on asystolic donor transplant operations and elective ventilation procedures.

David Lammy: At the Transplant Summit in February 2001, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health, announced draft Government plans to increase the rate of asystolic donor transplants. UK Transplant has been allocated extra funding to increase organ donation rates including developing more asystolic donor transplant programmes.
	The Department currently considers the practice of elective ventilation to be unlawful.

EMI Patients

John Cummings: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many beds in (a) Sunderland Royal Hospital, (b) Hartlepool General Hospital and (c) Ryhope Hospital are accepted by EMI patients who could be cared for in the community; and if he will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: The information requested is not held centrally.

Empty Properties

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health for how long his properties known as Burntwood Villas and Myrtle Cottages in Burntwood Lane, Tooting, London SW17 have been empty; and if he will make a statement.

David Lammy: The properties were transferred to the South West London and St Georges Mental Health National Health Service Trust in March 2002. Myrtle Cottages have been empty since the late 1970s and Burntwood Villa since 1998.
	Burntwood Villa has been let to the Bendon Care Foundation for keyworker accommodation. The future use of Myrtle Cottages is under consideration by the NHS trust, Wansworth Primary Care Trust and the London Borough of Wandsworth as a potential site for general practitioner provision.

Enuresis

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what treatments for enuresis he proposes to cover in the National Service Framework for children;
	(2)  whether he proposes to include targets for combating enuresis in the NSF for children.

Jacqui Smith: An external working group to the national service framework covering healthy children and young people is taking forward work on standards for universal services that every child and young person needs to optimise health and well-being. Initial findings from this group have shown that these standards will be relevant to, although not specifically about, treatments or targets for the management of enuresis.

External Consultants

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much money the NHS Modernisation Agency has spent on external consultants in the current financial year.

David Lammy: In the current financial year, the Modernisation Agency has spent £1,752,000 on external consultants.

Fluoridation

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the percentage of the population affected by dental fluorosis in areas where the water supply is (a) fluoridated and (b) not-fluoridated.

David Lammy: The report, "A Systematic Review of Water Fluoridation", published by the University of York in October 2000, estimated that the prevalence of dental fluorosis at a water fluoride level of 1.00 parts per million was 48 per cent. for all grades of fluorosis, including those which can only be identified by close professional examination and 12.5 per cent. for fluorosis of aesthetic concern.
	It should be noted that these figures include all enamel marks, whether from fluoride or not. Information is not held centrally on the prevalence of dental fluorosis in areas where the water supply is not artificially fluoridated.

Former NHS Sites (Development)

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many affordable homes have been built on former NHS sites sold by his Department over the last six years to the private sector.

David Lammy: holding answer 13 February 2003
	The Department does not keep records of the number of affordable houses that have been built on sites that it has sold.

Free Nursing Care

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many people have been waiting (a) less than one month, (b) over one month and less than two months, (c) over two months and less than three months, (d) over three months and less than four months and (e) over four months for an assessment for free nursing care;
	(2)  how many people are awaiting an assessment for free nursing care and what proportion that represents of people who require an assessment for free nursing care.

Jacqui Smith: holding answers 13 February 2003
	The Department does not collect this information centrally.

General Practitioners

Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS general practitioners there were in Shrewsbury and Atcham in each year since 1997.

David Lammy: Information for individual constituencies is not available. The figures for Shropshire Health Authority are shown in the table.
	
		All Practitioners (excluding GP retainers)(5) in Shropshire Health Authority as at 1 October 1997–99, 30 September 2000–01 and 31 March 2002
		
			 Year Numbers (headcount) 
		
		
			 1997 260 
			 1998 259 
			 1999 268 
			 2000 262 
			 2001 261 
			 2002(6) 260 
		
	
	(5) All Practitioners (excluding GP retainers) include GMS Unrestricted Principals, PMS Contracted GPs, PMS Salaried GPs, Restricted Principals, Assistants, GP Registrars, Salaried Doctors (para. 52 SFA) and PMS Others. GP Retainers were first collected in 1999 and have been omitted for comparability purposes.
	(6) March
	Source:
	Department of Health General and Personal Medical Services Statistics

Health and Social Care Directorates

Evan Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate (a) the cost of establishing and abolishing the directorates of health and social care and (b) the budgets for the directorates in each year since they were established.

David Lammy: For the financial year 2002–03, the revenue budget of the four Directorates of Health and Social Care (DsHSC) was £58.7 million, which represented the costs of the eight former regional offices of the NHS Executive rolled forward, after the transfer of certain functions to other parts of the Department. Expenditure against this budget is forecast to be £49 million.
	Additionally, there were set-up costs of £2.4 million attributable to establishing and equipping the public health function in the nine government offices of the regions. The budget of the DsHSC for 2003–04 is £24.5 million, a saving of £34.2 million over 2002–03.
	It is too early to assess the consequences of the proposed Departmental re-organisation.

Helplines

Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many telephone helplines are sponsored by his Department; and which of these helplines are charged at (a) national rate, (b) premium rate and (c) local rate.

David Lammy: The Department currently sponsors 40 helplines. Of those, 17 are freephone numbers, 14 are charged at local rate and nine are charged at national rate. None are charged at premium rate.

Hospitals

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which of the six key targets under the Better Hospital Food Programme will have been fully delivered by the end of December 2002 in each (a) region and (b) health authority.

David Lammy: I refer the hon. Member to the response I gave on him 14 October 2002, Official Report, volume 390, columns 481–82W.

Hospitals

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Sutton and Cheam (Mr. Burstow) of 22 January, Official Report, column 393W, on hospital hygiene, how long it took to produce the "Process Mapping the Housekeeper Service—A Toolkit for Change" guidance; and whether this superseded previous guidance on this issue.

David Lammy: The guide, "Process Mapping the Housekeeper Service—A Toolkit for Change", was produced to assist trusts when introducing housekeeping services. It was developed in conjunction with the National Health Service over a period of time following publication of the NHS Plan and was launched by the Chief Nursing Officer, Sarah Mullally, in November 2002. The development included a period of feedback and consultation.
	The toolkit is not prescriptive. Its aim is to help trusts examine their own service and develop local solutions. Information included about the withholding of payment or termination of contracts expands upon but does not supersede any previous guidance or local service level agreements. It makes clear that nurses have a major role to play in setting and monitoring standards of cleanliness at ward level.

Hospitals

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which hospitals he visited in 2002.

David Lammy: In 2002, my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State, had the opportunity to visit the following hospitals, some on more than one occasion.
	Epsom General Hospital, Maidstone Hospital, St Thomas' Hospital (London), Liverpool Women's Hospital, Peterborough District Hospital, St Mary's Hospital (London), Worcester Royal Hospital, Ilkeston Community Hospital, King's College Hospital (London), The Whittington Hospital (London), Addenbrookes Hospital, St George's Hospital (London), The Royal Marsden Hospital, Alder Hey Children's Hospital, Medway Hospital, Barnet General Hospital (London), Chase Farm Hospital and Darlington Memorial Hospital.

Independent Complaints Advocacy Services

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has permanently to establish the Independent Complaints Advocacy Services once its pilot ends.

David Lammy: An independent complaints advocacy service will be established. Decisions on the operational arrangements for this new service are being finalised. The Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health will be involved in providing advice and setting standards for independent complaints advocacy services.

Infectious Diseases (Home Treatment)

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the pilot project in Warwickshire to treat patients with infectious diseases in their own homes.

David Lammy: The proposed pilot project in Warwickshire, led by the South Warwickshire General Hospitals National Health Service Trust, would treat selected patients who have presented at the hospital with infections of the skin, wound or bone. The service is for patients who would be in hospital only to receive intravenous antibiotic therapy. The hospital's clinical teams would still carefully manage the patients. Patients with highly contagious infections who require isolation in hospital will continue to be treated as inpatients.
	This project is patient-centred and offers a choice to both patients and carers. The patient would have a reduced risk of hospital-acquired infection and conversely existing patients would not be exposed to the infection.

Inventures (Bidding Process)

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects the report of the National Audit Office into the bidding process for Inventures will be completed; and whether it will be published in full.

David Lammy: The National Audit Office (NAO) work on the bidding process should be completed in February 2003. A response will then be sent by the NAO to the Pears Group, the complainant.
	In addition, the NAO will send an internal management report to the Department of Health, summarising their findings and conclusions. No decision has yet been taken as to whether the report will be published.

Inventures (Bidding Process)

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to finalise the details of the sale of Inventures to the Miller Group; and when he will publish the details.

David Lammy: holding answer 13 February 2003
	The sale is expected to be finalised by September 2003, provided value for money is demonstrated.

Inventures (Bidding Process)

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list those NHS properties which have so far been agreed as being included in the list of sites to be transferred from NHS Estates to the Miller Group.

David Lammy: holding answer 13 February 2003
	Details of the proposed contractual Joint Venture with the preferred partner are currently being finalised.

Inventures (Bidding Process)

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many properties being sold by NHS Estates to the Miller Group will be sold with planning permission.

David Lammy: holding answer 13 February 2003
	Details of which properties will be the subject of the proposed contractual Joint Venture between NHS Estates and Miller/Bank of Scotland are still being finalised.

Inventures (Bidding Process)

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list (a) the members of senior management and (b) the number of employees, who formerly worked for Inventures, whose employment has been transferred to the Miller Group Consortium.

David Lammy: holding answer 13 February 2003
	The proposed contractual Joint Venture between NHS Estates and Miller/Bank of Scotland is still being progressed and no staff have been transferred.

Doctors

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many and what percentage of those entering medical training to qualify as doctors in each of the past 10 years were (a) men and (b) women;
	(2)  what percentage of those entering medical training were (a) men and (b) women in the last year for which figures are available.

David Lammy: The information requested is shown in the table.
	
		Number and gender of English medical school intake 1991–92 to 2001–02
		
			 Academic  Male Female 
			 Year Total Number Percentage Number Percentage 
		
		
			 1991–92 3,191 1,615 50.6 1,576 49.4  
			 1992–93 3,263 1,542 47.3 1,721 52.7  
			 1993–94 3,374 1,654 49.0 1,720 51.0  
			 1994–95 3,514 1,701 48.4 1,813 51.6  
			 1995–96 3,486 1,777 51.0 1,709 49.0  
			 1996–97 3,594 1,711 47.6 1,883 52.4  
			 1997–98 3,749 1,697 45.3 2,052 54.7  
			 1998–99 3,735 1,690 45.25 2,045 54.75 
			 1999–2000 3,972 1,748 44.0 2,224 56.0  
			 2000–01 4,300 1,826 42.5 2,474 57.5  
			 2001–02 4,713 1,959 41.5 2,754 58.5  
		
	
	Intake to English medical schools has risen by 1,522 during the past 10 years to its current level of 4,713, an increase of 48 per cent.

Doctors

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what figures he has collated on how many qualified medical doctors cease to work in the profession (a) during the first five years after qualifying and (b) during the first 10 years after qualifying, broken down by gender;
	(2)  how many and what percentage of those who qualified as medical practitioners but who did not enter and work in the profession in the last year for which figures are available were (a) men and (b) women.

David Lammy: We do not collect data on the number of medical graduates who do not enter the medical profession, nor do we collect data about the number of doctors who cease to work in the profession. However, the medical careers research group in the University of Oxford have undertaken cohort studies based on data collected by questionnaires sent to individual doctors emerging from United Kingdom medical schools.
	Of a 25 per cent., sample survey of the qualifiers of 2000, the latest data available, only tworespondents did not start working as a pre-registration house officer. Both were female.
	Data from 1996 qualifiers shows that, of those surveyed five years after qualification, 2.4 per cent., of men and 4.2 per cent, of women were not working in medicine.
	Data from 1988 qualifiers shows that of those surveyed 10 years after qualification, 0.9 per cent., of men and 5.3 per cent., of women were not working in medicine.

Doctors

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many and what percentage of those entering medical education who completed their studies and qualify to practise in the last year for which figures are available were (a) men and (b) women.

Jacqui Smith: The latest figures from the Higher Education Funding Council for England show that at 31 July 2002, the number obtaining the first registerable medical qualification in England was 3,280; 1,467, or 45 per cent., of whom were male and 1,813, or 55 per cent., were female.

Mental Health (Older People)

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the provision of mental health services for older people for the treatment of manic depression.

Jacqui Smith: The national service framework (NSF) for older people has a standard, a service model and milestones to monitor progress against for the provision of health and social care services for older people with mental health problems.
	Implementation of the NSF will ensure that older people with mental health problems, including those with manic depression, will receive the care and treatment they need.

Mental Health (Older People)

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people have been diagnosed with pre-senile dementia in each of the last five years, broken down by age at diagnosis.

Jacqui Smith: The Department does not routinely collect such information.

Hospital Waiting Lists/Times

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people in the Mid-Essex Hospital Services NHS Trust area were waiting for in-patient treatment on the latest available date.

David Lammy: There were 9,527 patients waiting for in-patient treatment at Mid-Essex Hospital Services National Health Service Trust at the end of December 2002.
	Source:
	KH07 return.

Hospital Waiting Lists/Times

Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the current average waiting time is in England for operations on children to remove tonsils.

Jacqui Smith: Inpatient waiting time data is collected by specialty. The average waiting time for ear, nose and throat is 3.3 months. There is no data available centrally at procedure level or by age group.

NHS Trusts (Financial Performance)

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether it is the Government's policy that strategic health authorities should (a) monitor the financial performance of trusts within their area and (b) collate estimates of the end-of-year financial outturn for each trust.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 13 February 2003
	It is the Government's policy that strategic health authorities should monitor the financial performance of national health service trusts within their area and collate estimates of the full year financial outturn for each NHS trust.

Online Sales/Purchases

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what (a) products, (b) goods and (c) services were (i) bought and (ii) sold online by his Department in each of the last five years.

David Lammy: The Department has ordered its catering requirements online since 1998 and its travel arrangements online starting this financial year using its own Intranet.
	The Department also uses web-enabled systems to place the advertisements under the European Union purchasing regulations and has pilot tested online tendering systems in collaboration with the Office of Government Commerce. It also uses the Government Procurement Card for low value purchases.
	The Department has not used the Internet for any sales activity.
	This answer does not include the national health service.

Operations

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) inpatients and (b) outpatient operations were cancelled in (i) Pilgrim hospital, Boston, Lincolnshire, (ii) Trent Regional Health Authority and (iii) England and Wales in 2002, expressed in a percentage of total operations and in numbers.

David Lammy: holding answer 11 February 2003
	Quarterly data are collected on the number of operations cancelled by the hospital for non-clinical reasons, for example, at the last minute (that is, on the day patients are due to arrive or after arrival in hospital or on the day of their operation) and on the day of surgery.
	These data are available in the Library and on the Department's website at www.doh.gov.uk/hospitalactivity/data requests.htm.
	Information about cancellations in Pilgrim Hospital, Trent Regional Health Authority and England are shown in the table. Currently, figures are available for the first nine months of 2002 only.
	
		
			   Number of last minute cancellationsfor non-clinical reasons  Number of cancellations as apercentage of elective admissions 
			  Q4 2001–02 Ql 2002–03 Q2 2002–03 Q4 2001–02 Ql 2002–03 Q2 2002–03 
		
		
			 United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust(7) 159 170 179 1.1 1.2 1.2 
			 Trent Strategic Health Authority(8) n/a 607 568 n/a 1.0 0.9 
			 England(9) 19,973 14,808 14,826 1.5 1.1 1.1 
		
	
	(7) Data is not published on the basis of individual hospitals. The figures are therefore provided for United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust, which manages the Pilgrim hospital.
	(8) Trent Strategic Health Authority was created in April 2002. The former Trent Regional Office covered a different geographical area.
	(9) For data on hospitals in Wales, please refer to the Welsh Assembly.
	Data are not collected on the number of patients whose outpatient appointment has been cancelled by the hospital.

Overview and Scrutiny Committees

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the Department of Health will be publishing guidelines for the establishment of overview and scrutiny committees.

David Lammy: The Department will be publishing guidance shortly for local authority overview and scrutiny committees to assist them in scrutinising the national health service. The guidance is also to enable the NHS to meet its duties under the NHS scrutiny arrangements.

Overview and Scrutiny Committees

Patsy Calton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the final guidance from his Department for local authority scrutiny committees on health issues will be published; and if he will make a statement.

David Lammy: The Department will shortly be publishing guidance to assist local authority overview and scrutiny committees in scrutinising health.

Patient Forums

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects the new patient forums to be established in all areas.

David Lammy: The Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health is responsible for recruiting members, appointing staff and putting in place the infrastructure for patients' forums. This process will be well under way by the time Community Health Councils are abolished in September.
	The Commission will be working towards the achievement of full coverage of forums by the end of the year.

Patient Forums

Richard Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what arrangements he has made to cover the period between the abolition of community health councils and the formation of primary care trust patient forums.

David Lammy: The Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health has said that it will be working towards achieving full coverage of patients' forums by the end of the year. Arrangements will be in place to ensure there is continuous support for patients through the transition.
	The new system for patient and public involvement goes beyond patients' forums. For example, independent complaints advocacy support for patients wanting to complain against the national health service will be available, patient advice and liaison services in trusts and primary care trusts routinely feed up patients views to trust boards, overview and scrutiny committees (OSCs) have to be consulted where substantial variation and developments are planned and individuals or patient groups can approach their OSC directly where they have concerns.
	In addition, the Commission will set up a national telephone help-line, which will help people access local support arrangements.

Community Pharmacies

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the impact of the deregulation of pharmacy contracts on smaller, non-supermarket pharmacies.

David Lammy: We are considering the report from the Director General of Fair Trading and its findings and recommendation carefully.
	Community pharmacists have an important part to play in our plans to drive up the quality of national health service services overall and to make the best use of skills of everybody working in the NHS. We are therefore considering the implications the report has for patients, for the profession and for the NHS as a whole.
	We have invited views on the report and are meeting key interests to hear their reactions, in order to help inform the Government response, which my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, is co-ordinating.

Private Patient Debt

Frank Dobson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the total debt of private patients to NHS hospitals was in 2001–02 in (a) London and (b) England.

David Lammy: holding answer 12 February 2003
	National health service hospitals are encouraged to obtain deposits from private patients to lessen the risk that charges for treatment cannot be fully recovered.
	The Department does not hold information centrally about the debt of private patients to NHS hospitals.

Procure 21

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans there are to bring Procure 21 into operation across the country; and if he will make a statement.

David Lammy: Following interest from national health service trusts across the country, a selection process is underway to establish frameworks that will be available for all NHS organisations from summer 2003.

Public Appointments

Evan Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place in the Library a copy of the application pack for candidates for the post of Chair of the Commission for Public and Patient Involvement.

David Lammy: holding answer 12 February 2003
	Copies of the application pack for candidates for the post of Chair of the Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health will be placed in the Library by Friday 14 February 2003.

Public Appointments

Evan Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health where and when the Central Office for Research Ethics Committees advertised the posts of making public appointments when appointing (a) an adviser on training research ethics committees and (b) an adviser on accreditation of research ethics committees.

David Lammy: All established, permanent positions at the Central Office for Research Ethics Committees (COREC) are filled following open advertisement and a rigorous selection process involving independent selectors. Additionally, fixed term contracts and secondments are used to involve individuals with particular expertise in specific time-limited projects.
	The two positions are in the latter category, and are not public appointments. The recruitment of the particular individuals took into account their knowledge, experience, general personal abilities and standing in the field of research ethics committees, and took place with the knowledge of the Department.

Social Workers

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many cases of compensation have been awarded to former social workers in each of the last five years in the social services departments in (a) Haringey, (b) Ealing, (c) Brent and (d) Enfield; and for what amounts;
	(2)  how many social workers working with vulnerable children have been subject to disciplinary measures in each of the last five years in (a) Haringey Social Services, (b) Ealing Social Services, (c) Brent Social Services and (d) Enfield Social Services.

Jacqui Smith: It is the responsibility of the individual local authority, as the employer, to maintain records relating to their employment policies, procedures and actions in relation to disciplinary matters. The Department does not collect this data centrally.

Social Workers

Mr. Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many vacancies he estimates there are for social workers in (a) London, broken down by borough and (b) the UK; and if he will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: We do not hold central information on vacancies in each local authority social services department in England for social workers.
	A survey undertaken by the Employers Organisation found that, across all local authority social services departments in England as at 30 September 2001, around 10 per cent. of all field social worker posts were vacant.

Speech and Language Therapy

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of shortages of speech therapists in Essex; and if he will make a statement.

David Lammy: Speech and language therapists have been recognised at a national level as a key work force priority for work force planning and development. Speech therapists have been targeted, along with other allied health professionals, for recruitment and retention. Work force development confederations have been made aware of the need to commission additional training places for this target group.

Speech and Language Therapy

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he is taking to (a) train and (b) recruit more speech therapists.

David Lammy: We are committed to increasing the numbers of speech and language therapists employed in the national health service. Between September 1997 and 2001, the number of speech and language therapists employed in the NHS has increased by over 800, or 17 per cent.
	"Delivering the NHS Plan", published in April 2002, includes the latest forecasts for growth in the NHS Workforce. By 2008, we expect the NHS to have a net increase over the September 2001 staff census of at least 30,000 therapists and scientists, including speech therapists.
	The "NHS Plan" stated that by 2004, there would be an extra 4,450 therapists, including speech therapists and other key health professionals being trained each year over 1999 levels. By 2001–02 the number of students entering training each year to become a speech therapist had increased by 96, or 21 per cent., from 457 to 553. Latest figures suggest a further increase, to 601, in the current financial year.
	A range of recruitment, retention and returner initiatives are in place to facilitate the NHS meeting the challenging targets set out in the "NHS Plan" and "Delivering the NHS Plan". The Department is working very closely with the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapy and has set up a working group to draw up a recruitment and retention strategy.

Mid Essex Hospital Trust (Staff Vacancies)

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) nurse and (b) consultant vacancies there are at Broomfield hospital, Essex at the latest available date.

David Lammy: The information requested is shown in the table. Vacancy information is not collected for specific hospitals; therefore, vacancy information is shown for Mid Essex Hospital Trust.
	
		Department of Health Vacancies Survey, March 2002 -- Vacancies in NHS Trusts in England and Mid Essex Hospital Services NHS Trust, specified staff groups, three month vacancy rates, numbers and staff in post
		
			  Three month vacancy rate (Percentage) Three month vacancy number Staff in post (wte) Staff in post Head count 
		
		
			 All consultants (excluding HA staff)
			 March 2002 
			 England (excludes HA staff) 3.8 946 23,708 25,816 
			 Mid Essex Hospital Services NHS Trust 3.4 3 86 98 
			  
			 All qualified nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff (excluding HA staff)   
			 March 2002 
			 England (excludes HA staff) 3.1 8,394 — — 
			 Mid Essex Hospital Services NHS Trust 2.2 19 — — 
			  
			 September 2001 
			 England (excludes HA staff) — — 265,717 329,981 
			 Mid Essex Hospital Services NHS Trust — — 881 1,171 
		
	
	Notes:
	Three month vacancy:
	1. Three month vacancy Information is as at 31 March 2002.
	2. Three month vacancies are vacancies which Trusts are actively trying to fill, which had lasted for three months or more (whole-time equivalents).
	3. Three month Vacancy Rates are three month vacancies expressed as a percentage of three month vacancies plus staff in post.
	4. Three month Vacancy Rates for non-medical staff are calculated using staff in post from the Vacancy Survey, March 2002.
	5. Three month Vacancy Rates for medical and dental staff are calculated using staff in post from the Consultant Census, March 2002.
	6. Percentages are rounded to one decimal place.
	Staff in post:
	1. Staff in post data is from the Non-Medical Workforce Census, September 2001 and the Mini Consultant Census, March 2002
	2. Staff in post data excludes staff employed by Health Authorities, as vacancy information was only collected from Trusts, PCTs and Special Health Authorities
	General:
	1. Vacancy and staff in post numbers are rounded to the nearest whole number
	2. Calculating the vacancy rates using the above data may not equal the actual vacancy rates
	3. Broomfield hospital is part of Mid Essex Hospital Services NHS Trust
	Sources:
	1. Department of Health Vacancies Survey March 2002
	2. Department of Health Consultant Census March 2002
	3. Department of Health Non-Medical Workforce Census September 2001

Surgeons

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many surgeons have (a) left and (b) started working in the NHS in each of the last five years.

David Lammy: Workforce data is collected through the annual Department of Health medical workforce census. The census is a snapshot of data as of 30 September in the appropriate year.
	The information shown in the table shows the net increases in the number of consultants in the surgery group in each of the last five years. We do not collect data on the number of leavers and joiners in the National Health Service.
	At March 2002 there were 4,969 consultants in surgery, an increase of 875 or 21.4 per cent., over 1997.
	
		Hospital Medical Consultants within the surgical group of specialties
		
			 Year 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 
		
		
			 England(10) 
			 Surgery Group 4,094 4,186 4,431 4,640 4,893 4,969 
			 of which 
			  Cardio-thoracicsurgery   156 166 182 198 204 202 
			 General surgery 1,178 1,197 1,257 1,331 1,389 1,412 
			 Neurosurgery 127 130 136 139 152 154 
			 Ophthalmology 580 598 628 651 683 687 
			 Otolaryngology 425 415 432 448 459 458 
			  Paediatric surgery   74 86 98 104 114 119 
			 Plastic surgery 155 169 168 188 198 198 
			 Trauma andorthopaedic surgery 1,056 1,067 1,142 1,199 1,267 1,303 
			 Urology 343 358 388 382 427 236 
		
	
	Note: 
	(10) Data as at 30 September 1997 to 2001 and 31 March 2002Source: Department of Health medical and dental workforce census.

Surgeons

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the (a) vacancy rates are and (b) rates 12 months ago were for surgeon positions in each hospital trust in England.

David Lammy: Vacancy rates for 2001 and 2002 for the surgical specialties in each hospital trust in England have been placed in the Library.

Teenage Cancer Ward (Southend)

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has for the building of a teenage cancer trust ward in Southend-on-Sea or the surrounding area.

David Lammy: The South Essex Cancer Network and Southend Hospital National Heath Service Trust have no plans at the present time to build a teenage cancer trust ward in Southend-on-Sea or the surrounding area.

Underspends

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of his Department's budget remains uncommitted for the current financial year.

David Lammy: There are no planned under-spends in 2002–03.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Chemical and Biological Weapons Conventions

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the policy of the Government towards the chemical weapons and biological weapons conventions.

Mike O'Brien: The Government's policy towards the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) and the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BWC) is to work towards their universal adoption and universal compliance with their obligations.
	The United Kingdom abandoned its offensive chemical and biological weapons programmes in the 1950s. Subsequently we have played a leading role in the negotiations both of the BWC of 1975, for which we are a depositary government, and the CWC which entered into force in 1997. We are fully compliant with our obligations under both Conventions and continue to press for their full and effective implementation. To this end, both nationally and with our EU partners, we have conducted a series of demarches world-wide, with particular attention to regions of tension such as the Middle East.
	The United Kingdom was instrumental in securing a successful outcome to the BWC Review Conference in November 2002, which saw agreement on a three year work programme of practical measures to deal with the BW threat. At the forthcoming CWC Review Conference (28 April-9 May 2003) the UK will be presenting a number of important technical and scientific papers. The strength of our political support and commitment to both Conventions, as well as the technical expertise we contribute, are second to none.

Afghanistan (Moazzam Begg)

Chris Mullin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the US Government to permit access by the Red Cross and by British diplomats to Moazzam Begg who is detained at Bagram Airbase in Afghanistan; when; and with what result.

Mike O'Brien: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has raised the case of Moazzam Begg with the US Secretary of State, Colin Powell, on a number of occasions, most recently on 23 January. Mr. Begg was transferred to Guantanamo Bay on 6 February. Officials have discussed access to Mr. Begg, most recently on 10 February, and expect to see him shortly.
	We understand the Red Cross had access to Mr. Begg in Afghanistan. Previously they have had access to all the British detainees at Guantanamo Bay.

Africa

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the implementation of the policies on Africa announced by the Prime Minister in September 2001.

Bill Rammell: My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has made Africa a priority for this Government. Our aims in Africa are peace and security; ending inequality and poverty; social justice and human rights; and improved political and economic governance.
	Last year at Kananaskis, the Prime Minister announced that the UK development programme for Africa will increase to 1 billion a year by 2006. Our development programme addresses the range of challenges faced by Africa and supports African governments' own efforts to achieve the internationally agreed Millennium Development Goals in Africa. For example, our work on health includes supporting the development of health systems, improving access to essential medicines and working towards eradicating polio. In education we are working with African governments to realise their aspirations of education for all.
	The UK recognises that peace and security is a prerequisite for Africa's development. In April 2001, we established the Africa Conflict Prevention Pool, which brings together all relevant government ministries to identify ways to tackle violent conflict in Africa.
	We continue to work with international financial institutions to ensure that the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative achieves its aim of freeing eligible African countries from unsustainable debt. In addition, the UK goes further than required under HIPC and gives 100 per cent. debt relief to countries once they qualify. For the 22 African countries that have reached 'decision point' all repayments on their debts (worth over £800 million) have ceased.
	African commitment to progress is encapsulated in the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) where African governments have made commitments to improve political and economic governance, solve conflicts and to move forward development. The UK was one of the prime movers behind the formulation of the G8 Africa Action Plan launched at Kananaskis last year in support of NEPAD.

Capital Projects

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will place the evaluations for Capital Modernisation Fund projects in his Department since 1998 in the Library; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: The FCO has received Capital Modernisation Funds for three projects: The "Internet" project, "Entry Clearance Modernisation" and "e-procurement". The first two projects are still under way. The e-procurement project has been completed, and an evaluation is in progress. Consequently, no evaluation reports are yet available.

Laptops

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many laptop computers were used by (a) Ministers and special advisers and (b) officials in his Department in each year since 1995; how many were (i) lost and (ii) stolen; what their cost was; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: We do not have a central record of the numbers of laptops issued as budgets have been devolved to overseas posts and UK directorates. This information therefore would be available only at disproportionate cost.
	No laptops have been reported lost or stolen in the past two years. We do not have earlier records.

Domestic Violence

Margaret Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to raise awareness of domestic violence, with particular reference to (a) supporting efforts to curb domestic violence and (b) providing services for those victims, in foreign countries and in the Commonwealth.

Bill Rammell: The FCO is supporting a number of projects in, for example, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Uganda, China and Brazil, to counter domestic violence. The UK promotes women's enjoyments of their rights and freedoms more generally by negotiating resolutions and other documents in international fora, by funding human rights work in favour of women.

Foreign Postings

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many of his Department's officials have been posted abroad in each region in each year since 1997.

Jack Straw: The number of Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials who have been posted abroad since 1997 is listed as follows:
	
		
			 Region 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 
		
		
			 Africa 233 292 264 250 121 127 
			 Americas 235 288 328 290 102 128 
			 Asia Pacific 503 473 532 517 245 202 
			 European Union 239 293 298 274 143 138 
			 Wider Europe 245 350 377 300 129 148 
			 Middle East 141 157 239 172 81 87 
			 Temp 29 27 33 37 33 24 
			 Other 130 146 168 186 206 54 
		
	
	Note:
	1. The figures above do not give an accurate picture, they simply state how many people were posted to that region during that year. At present the FCO has over 2,000 officers based abroad.
	2. "Temp" refers to those officers who provide temporary cover at posts so are not based in one specific region.
	3. "Other" refers to commands who cover various regions. We are unable to separate this figure by region without incurring disproportionate costs.
	4. Post tour lengths vary from one year to five years depending on region so the figures should not be used for comparison purposes between regions.

Kashmir

Margaret Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Indian Government on human rights abuses in Kashmir.

Mike O'Brien: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary most recently raised human rights in Kashmir with Yashwant Sinha, the Indian Foreign Minister, during his visit to India on 18–20 July 2002. I more recently discussed a wide range of human rights issues, including Kashmir with ID Swami, Indian Minister of State for Home Affairs during my visit to India on 17 October.

Kyrgyzstan

Peter Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with non-governmental organisations and international aid organisations regarding building relationships with Kyrgyzstan; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: Officials from the British Embassy in Kazakhstan, which is also responsible for relations with Kyrgyzstan, meet with Kyrgyz NGOs on a regular basis. The Department for International Development office in Bishkek liaises with international aid organisations in Kyrgyzstan and provides technical assistance to programmes funded by, among others, the World bank. DfID targets assistance in areas such as rural livelihoods, health, sanitation and water supply, tariff policy and social development.

Kyrgyzstan

Peter Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions the European Union has had regarding developing relations with Kyrgyzstan; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: The framework for relations between the EU and Kyrgyzstan is the EU-Kyrgyzstan Partnership and Co-operation Agreement (PCA). Officials from EU member states and Kyrgyzstan meet annually at a Co-operation Council and a Co-operation Committee in Brussels to discuss progress in relations. The Co-operation Committee last met in November 2002. In the course of developing the dialogue between the parties, the EU occasionally makes representations locally, most recently in late January. It also regularly makes statements at the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna on bilateral issues and issues of concern. For example, the EU welcomed the recent consultative process of constitutional reform in Kyrgyzstan, but later expressed reservations about it.
	The fourth Co-operation Council met in July 2002. The fourth Co-operation Committee will meet in March 2003, and a broad ranging agenda will cover economic issues, justice and home affairs, foreign policy, regional co-operation, democracy and human rights. The most recent statement on Kyrgyzstan at the OSCE Permanent Council was on 6 February.

Nepal

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  in what measures the Government is involved to strengthen Nepal's (a) military and (b) police capacity;
	(2)  in what initiatives the Government is involved to create a lasting peace in Nepal.

Mike O'Brien: The Government welcomes the ceasefire agreed between the Government of Nepal and the Maoists on 29 January. We remain committed to working with the Nepalese, and our international partners, towards a lasting peace in Nepal and we continue to coordinate international efforts to help resolve the conflict in Nepal. This is largely being done through the International Support Group, a body formed as a result of the international conference hosted by the UK in London in June. Further to our £22 million bilateral development programme, we have a package of £6.7 million under our Global Conflict Prevention Pool. Projects funded from this pool are aimed at short-term development and reinforcing Nepal's development, military and police capacity.
	An advisor from the Department for International Development is working with the Inspectorate General of Police in Nepal on reforms to modernise and enhance the professionalism of the police. This includes support to establish an Independent Police Service Commission, enhance police training and extend community policing.
	For details of our military assistance to Nepal, I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 6 November 2003, Official Report, column 310W, to the hon. Member for Richmond Park (Dr. Tonge).

Consular Prison Visits

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what guidelines he has issued on how often representatives from British high commissions or British embassies visit British nationals serving prison sentences in foreign countries to check their health and prison conditions; and to whom reports of these visits are made.

Mike O'Brien: In July 1992, the Consular Action Plan (CAP) was established to ensure the principles of the Citizen's Charter were introduced into consular work.
	On prison visiting, the CAP sets the target time for the first contact to be made with the detainee within 24 hours of notification of arrest and the first visit within 48 hours of that notification. Thereafter, consular staff are advised to visit at "reasonable" intervals, depending on the circumstances and needs of the individual prisoner. In countries where prison conditions are harsh, efforts are made to ensure that detainees receive at least quarterly visits.
	During consular visits, staff will:
	ensure the person is not being subjected to degrading or inhumane treatment, or being discriminated against on grounds of nationality;
	gain an impression of the person's state of health to enable appropriate follow-up action to be taken with the prison authorities;
	give the person the opportunity to express any legitimate complaint about the conditions of imprisonment;
	facilitate, if necessary, contact between the detainee and a lawyer;
	if appropriate, discuss arrangements for the person's return to the UK on release.
	Reports of every prison visit are sent to the Consular Division of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London. We pass on information about the visits to the next of kin. Unless the detainee has requested that we do not.

Turkish-Cypriot Community

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last met representatives of the Turkish-Cypriot community in the UK; and what issues were discussed.

Denis MacShane: Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials are in regular contact with representatives and members of both Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot communities in the UK in order to discuss the full range of issues of interest to those communities.
	The current UN talks process is naturally of particular concern. The Government continues to express its full support for the UN Secretary-General's 10 December proposals, which would provide for a settlement in the best interests of all Cypriots. We are urging all those involved to secure a settlement by 28 February, enabling referenda to be held on both sides of the island and a reunited Cyprus to sign the Treaty of Accession with the EU on 16 April.
	I maintain a close interest in the settlement process and regularly meet interested parties in the UK. Most recently, I held a discussion with the Friends of Cyprus Group on the state of play in the settlement talks.

Western Sahara

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made concerning the referendum on the future of Western Sahara to (a) the Government of Morocco and (b) the United Nations; and if he will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave her on 22 January, Official Report, column 358W.
	The Secretary General (UNSG) reported to the United Nations Security Council on the situation concerning Western Sahara in advance of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) mandate renewal. His personal envoy (PE), James Baker has presented a proposal to the parties to the dispute for a political solution, as requested by Security Council Resolution 1429 of 30 July 2002. His proposals have not been published.
	Our position remains that we fully support the UN process and the efforts of the UNSG and PE to find a political solution to this dispute that provides for self-determination of the people of Western Sahara (as UNSCR 1429 of 30 July 2002). We supported the extension of MINURSO's mandate until 31 March 2003 as requested by the UNSG to give the parties time to consider the latest proposals.

Zimbabwe

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what special arrangements his Department is making to ensure that those teachers that hold British passports, and who are leaving Zimbabwe owing to political oppression, are categorised as skilled or semi-skilled workers rather than economic migrants when entering the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: British citizens have the right of abode in the United Kingdom, and there is therefore no need for them to be categorised according to their skills. British passport-holders who have other categories of British nationality may enter the UK as visitors, but would need to seek prior entry clearance before coming to the UK for any other reason.

Zimbabwe

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what special arrangements his Department is making to ensure that those pensioners that hold British passports, and who are leaving Zimbabwe owing to political oppression, are given priority in entering the UK; what arrangements are being made to ensure their financial needs are met; and if he will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: No special arrangements have been made for British pensioners who choose to leave Zimbabwe and return to the UK.
	Any British citizen arriving in the UK from abroad may make an immediate claim for income-support, housing benefit, council tax benefits and jobseeker's allowance (income-based) subject to meeting certain criteria, including demonstrating that they are habitually resident in the UK. These benefits are only paid to people with close ties to the UK and an intention to settle here.

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

Child Abuse

Vera Baird: To ask the Solicitor General how many children were (a) killed and (b) non-accidentally injured while in the care of their parents or carers in (i) 2001 and (ii) 2002.

Jacqui Smith: I have been asked to reply.
	Information detailing the number of children who were killed or suffered non-accidental injury while in the care of their parents or carers in 2001 and 2002 is not held centrally.
	However, by revamping its database of serious cases, the Department of Health has a record of serious case notifications from 1 April 2002. A serious case notification concerns the death of, or serious injury to, a child where abuse and/or neglect may have been a factor. As at 11 February 2003, there have been 133 recorded serious case notifications to the database. Of these notifications, 103 were of deaths and 30 were of serious injuries.
	Information detailing the number of children under 16-years-old, who are currently recorded as being victims of homicide, a category which covers murder, manslaughter and infanticide, over the last 10 years, classified by relationship of victim to principal suspect, has been placed in the Library.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Archaeological Sites (Cornwall)

Candy Atherton: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans she has to protect (a) underground, (b) overground and (c) underwater archaeological sites in Cornwall.

Kim Howells: The remains of the past, whether above ground, underground or underwater are currently identified and protected by a framework of designation regimes. This includes the listing of buildings of special architectural and historic merit, the scheduling of ancient monuments and the designation of conservation areas and historic wreck sites. Separate systems also exist for the identification of historic parks, gardens and battlefields and for the inscription of World Heritage Sites.

Archaeological Sites (Cornwall)

Candy Atherton: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what action she has taken regarding archaeological sites in Cornwall in the last five years.

Kim Howells: During the last five years nearly 200 sites in Cornwall have been designated as Scheduled Ancient Monuments, ranging from prehistoric burial mounds to 19th century mining remains associated with the tin industry. A Scheduled Monument comprises of one or more individual archaeological items, and in the case of these Cornwall monuments, 572 separate archaeological items have been protected.
	English Heritage has additionally undertaken evaluation work to identify nationally important 20th century military sites, industrial monuments and bridges in Cornwall, as well as throughout England. This work has contributed to our understanding of such archaeological sites and has identified sites for statutory designation in Cornwall. There has also been increasing involvement in more recent years with the World Heritage Site bid for Cornish Mining and a programme to protect nationally important mining remains within the selected bid areas is under way.

Archaeological Sites (Cornwall)

Candy Atherton: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on her policy on the protection of underwater wrecks that are of archaeological interest.

Kim Howells: The Department's responsibility for underwater archaeology primarily extends to administering the Protection of Wrecks Act 1973 in England and designating wrecks off English waters under the Act. It is the Department's policy to protect the best examples of our underwater heritage while encouraging greater access to it. To achieve this, we seek to work constructively with both the archaeological and diving communities, and to encourage co-operation between the two groups.

Licensing Bill

John Greenway: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  what impact assessment she has made of the effect of the proposals in the Licensing Bill on not for profit sports clubs;
	(2)  what assessment she has made of the likely additional cost on the voluntary sports club sector of being required to (a) obtain licences for club entertainment and (b) comply with the annual inspection fees as proposed in the Licensing Bill;
	(3)  what plans she has to assist voluntary sports clubs to meet with the costs imposed by the proposals within the Licensing Bill;
	(4)  for what reasons she will require clubs to apply for licences for club entertainment under the proposed Licensing and Entertainment Bill; and how many clubs will be required to obtain such a licence.

Kim Howells: Voluntary or not for profit sports clubs do not enjoy any special status under current alcohol or entertainment licensing law. They may, however, operate as registered clubs under the Licensing Act 1964 and therefore enjoy a different status to those operating under justices' licences. Under the Licensing Bill the separate system for authorisations for qualifying clubs will continue through the new club premises certificate. The Regulatory Impact Assessment that accompanies the Bill states that there are currently just over 22,000 registered clubs.
	Registered clubs are not currently completely exempt from the need for permission to have live entertainment. They need a certificate of suitability from the local authority and a special hours certificate from the magistrates if they currently wish to provide entertainment for extended hours.
	Qualifying clubs will be required to obtain authorisation to provide regulated entertainment under the Bill, this is to ensure that the activity is carried on in accordance with the requirements necessary to promote the licensing objectives: the prevention of crime and disorder; public safety; the prevention of public nuisance; and the protection of children from harm.
	The Government estimate that under the provisions of the Licensing Bill an application for a club premises certificate would cost between £100 and £500 with an annual charge of between £50 and £150 to maintain a revenue stream and cover continuing inspection and enforcement. It will cost no more, in terms of time or money, to apply for a certificate permitting the sale of alcohol and the provision of regulated entertainment than it would to apply for one permitting the sale of alcohol only. The Licensing Bill will not, therefore, impose additional costs for clubs. No specific impact assessment was carried out on not for profit sports clubs. The Regulatory Impact Assessment that accompanies the Bill estimates that voluntary associations and other non-profit making bodies would save around £150 million over the first 10 years of operation.

Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when she intends to reply to the letter to her dated 20 December from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton, with regard to Mr. G. Davies.

Tessa Jowell: I wrote to my right hon. Friend on 10 February 2003.

EU Intercultural Understanding

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list the programmes and schemes funded by her Department aimed at enhancing inter-cultural understanding among EU member states.

Richard Caborn: The Department does not contribute directly to any EU-funded programme or scheme aimed at enhancing inter-cultural understanding or co-operation among EU member states. My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer holds responsibility for the United Kingdom's contribution to the EC Budget, and from this budget the following programmes are funded:
	Culture 2000, which aims to foster and fund cooperation between artistic and cultural organisations and projects within the European Union and the Candidate Countries;
	Media Plus, the aim of which is to strengthen the competitiveness of the European audiovisual industry by training of professionals, development of production projects, and distribution and promotion of cinematographic works and audiovisual programmes throughout the EU and candidate countries.

Departmental Budgets

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  what the combined allocated budgets are for her Department's non-departmental public bodies in (a) 2003–04, (b) 2004–05 and (c) 2005–06;
	(2)  what the allocated budgets are for each of her Department's executive agencies in (a) 2003–04, (b) 2004–05 and (c) 2005–06.

Kim Howells: Details of allocated budgets up to 2005–06 will be published in the spring 2003 departmental report. The information will include how budgets are allocated to deliver the Department's functions and objectives.

Tourism Industry

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans are in place to compensate for the fall in foreign visitors to the UK since (a) 11 September 2001 and (b) the Bali terrorist attacks.

Kim Howells: In April 2002, the British Tourist Authority launched 'Only in Britain, Only in 2002', a campaign to promote Britain in our seven biggest overseas markets. It was funded by £20 million from the Government and over £5 million in cash contributions from the industry, and featured extensive television, radio and press advertising. In addition, BTA offices around the world continue to undertake a full range of marketing and promotional activities, including consumer, travel trade and press liaison work.

Tourism Industry

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps have been taken to increase the numbers of North American tourists to the UK since September 2001.

Kim Howells: In April 2002, the British Tourist Authority launched 'Only in Britain, Only in 2002', a campaign to promote Britain in our seven biggest overseas markets, including the USA and Canada. The BTA continues to build on positive campaign feedback in North America and undertakes a full range of marketing and promotional activities, including consumer, travel trade and press liaison work.

Tourism Industry

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of the effect military action in Iraq will have on the UK tourism industry.

Kim Howells: No decision has been taken on military action and it is not possible to make accurate predictions of any impact on the tourism industry. Some overseas visitors might be more reluctant to travel, but more British people might choose to holiday in the UK. We are working closely with the British Tourist Authority and the tourism industry to share information and to ensure that clear and consistent messages are provided to our potential overseas visitors.

Lake Windermere

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of the likely impact on sport and recreation of the introduction of a 10 mile per hour speed limit on Lake Windermere.

Richard Caborn: This Department has made no such assessment. Sport England gave evidence to the inquiry into the Lake Windermere byelaws, stating that in their view a speed reduction would affect water sports, specifically water skiing.

Lake Windermere

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how the increase in participation targets set out in the Government's Game Plan will be affected by the speed limit restrictions for Lake Windermere.

Richard Caborn: We do not expect the speed limit restrictions for Lake Windermere to have any significant effect on the increase in participation targets set out in Game Plan.

Lake Windermere

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what alternative venues have been sought by Sport England to accommodate those affected by the introduction of the Navigation Bye Law 1992 at Lake Windermere.

Richard Caborn: During the inquiry into the implementation of the Navigation Bye Laws at Lake Windermere, Sport England along with the British Water Ski Federation considered the issue of the displacement of motorised water sports from the Lake. Sport England and the British Water Ski Federation continue to work together with those affected by the Byelaws to negotiate access to suitable areas of water for the continuation of these sports.
	Neither the Government nor Sport England would seek to impose specific alternative venues on those affected by the Navigation Byelaws on Lake Windermere. We believe it is for individuals to find convenient sites that will enable them to pursue water skiing and the other motorised water sports that will be affected by the Byelaws.

Olympic Bid

Joyce Quin: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of the consequences for the existing planned levels of public expenditure on investment in (a) Greater London and (b) each English region of an Olympic bid.

Tessa Jowell: We do not expect planned levels of public investment region by region to be affected in the course of any Olympic bid, the outcome of which would be known by July 2005.

Olympic Bid

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what government funds have been spent on the proposed bid to hold the Olympics of 2012.

Tessa Jowell: In addition to normal running costs, my Department has incurred extra costs, currently forecast at £251,828 including VAT, relating to consideration of a bid to host the Olympic Games in London 2012.

Olympic Bid

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether the proposed increase in council tax to fund the 2012 Olympic bid and event will apply only to residents of London.

Tessa Jowell: There are no plans to fund the bidding or staging of the 2012 Olympic Games through an increase in council tax for residents outside London.

Public Entertainment Outlets

Patsy Calton: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what requirement is made of public entertainment outlets to ensure that first aid treatment is available during opening hours; and if she will make a statement.

Kim Howells: Public entertainment licensing law provides that the local authority may impose any terms, conditions or restrictions that they consider necessary to ensure the safety of people at the premises. A requirement for there to be first aid equipment on the premises and members of staff trained in its use is therefore common. The application of licence conditions does not in any way replace or reduce the underlying statutory duty of employers or self-employed persons to comply with the requirements of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and any associated regulations and codes of practice. Employers and self-employed persons are required to assess the risks to their workers and any others (e.g. members of the public) who may be affected by their business so as to identify what measures are needed to avoid or control the risks. Accordingly, the businesses would ideally need to provide first aid equipment on their premises, in working order, and at least one member of staff trained in its use.

Regional Newspapers

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what representations she has received on the impact of the Communications Bill on regional newspapers.

Kim Howells: We have received a number of representations on this subject, many from editors of newspapers owned by Johnston Press plc. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has also discussed the subject with newspaper proprietors and the Newspaper Society.

Terrestrial Television

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what her policy is on whether terrestrial television stations should be protected from ownership by corporations with a substantial stake in the national newspaper market.

Kim Howells: Our policy is to prevent joint ownership of a substantial share of the newspaper market and a substantial part of Channel 3, the only commercial public service broadcaster that currently has universal access to a mass audience. We believe this would represent an unacceptable concentration of influence.
	The Communications Bill is therefore retaining restrictions on newspaper proprietors holding Channel 3 licences. The rules in the Bill are as follows:
	No one controlling more than 20 per cent. of the national newspaper market may hold any licence for Channel 3;
	No one who runs a national newspaper with more than a 20 per cent. share of the total national market share may hold more than a 20 per cent. stake in any Channel 3 company;
	No Channel 3 licence holder may be a participant with more than a 20 per cent. interest in a body which runs a national newspaper controlling 20 per cent. of the national market;
	A company in which such a newspaper proprietor holds more than a 20 per cent. share cannot itself hold more than a 20 per cent. share in such a service.
	There is also a parallel local rule so that:
	No one may own a Channel 3 licence if he runs local newspapers which together have more than 20 per cent. of the local market share in the coverage area of the service.
	We believe that these new rules will allow more freedoms for Channel 3 whilst at the same time safeguarding against substantial joint ownership of the newspaper market and Channel 3. We believe that there are less grounds for concern about the cross-ownership of Channel 5 by a large newspaper group, as it has a relatively small audience, does not reach the whole UK population and has fewer public service commitments than ITV. Were the nature of the service to change, however, and its audience share increase under new ownership, it will be possible to alter the public service obligations of the Channel 5 licence, and to introduce a nominated news provider system.

Terrestrial Television

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what her Department is doing to encourage a pluralistic media culture, with particular reference to terrestrial television channels.

Kim Howells: The Communications Bill ensures that rules will be retained to safeguard democratic debate at national, regional and local level. In particular, there will be limits on the joint-ownership of newspapers and ITV. Newspapers are the most editorially influential mass medium, and television is people's most trusted source of information. Joint-ownership of a substantial share of the newspaper market and a substantial part of Channel 3, the only commercial public service broadcaster that currently has universal access to a mass audience, would represent an unacceptable concentration of influence. Therefore, no one owning a regional Channel 3 licence may own more than 20 per cent. of the local/regional newspaper market in the same region.
	We believe that there are less grounds for concern about the cross-ownership of Channel 5 by a large newspaper group, as it has a relatively small audience, does not reach the whole UK population and has fewer public service commitments than ITV. Were the nature of the service to change, however, and its audience share increase under new ownership, it will be possible to alter the public service obligations of the Channel 5 licence, and to introduce a nominated news provider system.
	The existence of the BBC and Channel 4 will ensure that there are at least three separately controlled free-to-air public service TV broadcasters, in addition to the expanding range of digital channels.
	There will also be a scheme to protect the range of voices that exist in the local media. Newspaper and television owners will be subject to local ownership rules that will ensure the existence of at least three local or regional commercial media voices (in TV, radio and newspapers) in most areas.

MINISTER FOR WOMEN

Child Care

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Minister for Women what assessment she has made of access to child care for women.

Patricia Hewitt: Various assessments have been made of access to child care for women. Access to child care was fully explored in the Repeat Study of Parents' Demand for Childcare, focusing on working mothers and non-working mothers (including single mothers). Aspects of access to child care investigated included the role of child care, child care arrangements and difficulties with child care. The issue of access to child care for parents, including mothers was investigated in the 'Fifth Survey of Parents of Three and Four Year Old Children and Their Use of Early Years Services'. The survey included the amount of information available to guide their choices, the quality of education provided by their main provider and the quality of nursery education and child care provided by local providers.
	My Department has also included questions on child care in this year's Work-Life Balance surveys of employers and employees. We expect to have the findings this summer. The Women and Equality Unit have also commissioned research into women's decision-making about child care, in relation to participation in the labour market, involving minority ethnic women in particular. The findings of this research will also be available in the summer.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Broadband

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what percentage of broadband telecoms is controlled by BT outside cable franchise areas.

Stephen Timms: holding answer 11 February 2003
	According to the Oftel Internet and Broadband Brief for January 2003, cable television services were available to 13.3 million homes (over 53 per cent. of households in UK) at the end of December 2002. Broadband services are also available over ADSL, fixed wireless and satellite. These were available respectively to 63 per cent., 12 per cent. and 100 per cent. of UK households. BT's share of the total retail broadband market is some 22 per cent. We have made no specific analysis of the UK market without areas covered by cable television networks.

Broadband

Wayne David: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what regional boundaries are being used for the allocation of 3.4 GHz wireless broadband licences.

Stephen Timms: The Wireless Telegraphy (Public Fixed Wireless Access Licences), Regulations 2002 S.I. No. 1911, which came into force on 12 August 2002, provide for the award of 15 Public Fixed Wireless Access (PFWA) regional licences. There are seven metropolitan and seven provincial licence regions for Scotland Wales and England and one provincial licence for Northern Ireland.
	The regions are:
	Central Scotland (Metropolitan)
	Greater London (Metropolitan)
	Midlands (Metropolitan)
	Northern (Metropolitan)
	Severnside (Metropolitan)
	South Coast (Metropolitan)
	Tyne-Tees (Metropolitan)
	Midlands and Mid Wales (Provincial)
	Northern Ireland (Provincial)
	North of England (Provincial)
	North West, Yorkshire and North Wales (Provincial)
	Scotland (Provincial)
	South East (Provincial)
	Southern (Provincial)
	South West and South Wales (Provincial)
	I have placed a copy of the map and the post code details of these in the Libraries of the House.

Broadband

Wayne David: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what consultation has taken place with the National Assembly for Wales on the allocation of 3.4 GHz wireless broadband licences.

Stephen Timms: Consultation on the allocation of 3.4 GHz public fixed wireless access (PFWA) licences began on 19 December 2000, when the Radiocommunications Agency ("RA"), on behalf of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry ("SoS"), published a consultative document entitled 3.4 and 10 GHz: Scenarios for Spectrum Packaging and Delivery ("the December Consultation Document"). This Consultation Document presented a number of scenarios for packaging and delivering licences to establish and use stations and apparatus for wireless telegraphy in the 3.4 GHz and 10 GHz bands for the provision of Fixed Wireless Access services ("FWA") (referred to in this paper as "spectrum licences", "licences" or "FWA licences").
	Following a detailed review of the responses to the December Consultation Document and the completion of further technical studies in the 3.4 GHz and 10 GHz bands a further consultation document, "PFWA: Proposal by the RA to package and deliver licences at 3.4GHz", published in April 2002, set out the proposal to award spectrum licences for the 3.4 GHz band.
	Both consultations were carried out nationally and all Government Departments and devolved Administrations were invited, along with industry and the public, to be involved and comment on the proposals. Among the many comments received and meetings held, RA received input and held discussions with officials of the National Assembly for Wales on numerous occasions.

Burma

Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which UK banks have provided loans to the (a) regime in and (b) state owned industries in Burma, in the past two financial years.

Patricia Hewitt: HMG's policy is not to encourage UK companies to trade or invest in Burma in view of the current political and human rights situation there. HMG does not have access to comprehensive information kept by UK banks in their overseas dealings. However we are not aware of any UK bank offering banking services in Burma.

Capita

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to his answer of 9 January 2003, Official Report, column 6W, on Capita, if he will give the (a) start and finish date, (b) value, (c) evaluation mechanism for successful delivery and (d) penalty charges for failure to deliver for each contract; whether penalty charges have been incurred; what the service level agreements were; what the contract numbers were; and if he will make a statement.

Patricia Hewitt: This information is not held centrally and can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Coal Industry (Social Welfare Organisation)

Wayne David: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress is being made in providing funds for the Coal Industry Social Welfare Organisation to continue its work.

Brian Wilson: The Department has offered to provide funding of £200,000 per year for three years for those of CISWO's activities which specifically relate to DTI responsibilities such as the management of Miners' Welfare trusts and an extensive property portfolio.

Computer Crime

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many cases of computer (a) hacking, (b) fraud and (c) theft her Department recorded in 2001–02; and on how many occasions computer systems have been illegally accessed by computer hackers (i) within and (ii) outside her Department.

Patricia Hewitt: The number of cases of computer hacking detected was zero in Financial Year 2001–02 and there were no recorded instances of DTI computer systems being accessed illegally from within or outside for the same period.
	There were no recorded cases of computer fraud during Financial Year 2001–02.
	The number of cases of computer theft detected was 31 in Financial Year 2001–02. Of these, 28 were perpetrated by insiders and the remainder by persons outside the Department. Some of these 31 instances involved departmental assets but others related to assets owned by PFI partners, contractor staff or individuals.

Departmental Expenditure

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  what value for money assessment she has made of expenditure by her Department and its agencies; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  what assessment she has made of the value for money of expenditure on (a) ACAS, (b) the Patent Office and (c) British Trade International; and if she will make a statement.

Patricia Hewitt: Value for money assessment of expenditure is determined by whether the Department meets its Public Service Agreement targets alongside specific operational targets for the central Department, its agencies and ACAS, which is a non-departmental public body. Achievement against these targets is published annually in the Department's annual expenditure plans report (EPR) and in individual agency's own annual reports and accounts. The Department's EPR for 2003–04 to 2004–05 is due to be published in April 2003. British Trade International produces a separate EPR which is also due to be published in April 2003. Major new proposals for expenditure are subject to appraisal as well as monitoring and evaluation. Evaluations are published on the DTI's website at www.dti.gov.uk/about/evaluation/

Departmental Expenditure

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  what her estimate is of her Department's direct financial support for the construction industry in each year from 1990–91 to 2004–05 (planned); and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  what her estimate is of the cost to her Department of the Strategic Forum for Construction in 2002–03; and if she will make a statement.

Brian Wilson: Over the period 1990–91 to 2000–01, responsibility for the construction industry rested with the former Department of the Environment and then the former Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions. Expenditure over this period related to responsibilities which are now divided between the Department of Trade and Industry, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and British Trade International. The figures are:
	
		
			 Year £ million 
		
		
			 1990–91 20.0 
			 1991–92 23.9 
			 1992–93 25.3 
			 1993–94 26.2 
			 1994–95 26.9 
			 1995–96 27.6 
			 1996–97 27.5 
			 1997–98 27.4 
			 1998–99 28.3 
			 1999–2000 25.4 
			 2000–01 26.7 
		
	
	Figures for the following two years, covering the Department of Trade and Industry's expenditure only, are:
	
		
			 Year £ million 
		
		
			 2001–02 22.2 
			 2002–03 21.5 
		
	
	Final allocations have not yet been made for 2003–04 or 2004–05; as the Secretary of State has announced, the Department is conducting a major review of all its business support, including that for the construction sector. However, we expect the budget for construction next year to be close to that for this year.
	In addition to hosting and administering the meetings of the Strategic Forum for Construction during the development of its report, "Accelerating Change", the Department supported the Forum's work financially by funding the development, publication and launch of the report, the consultation process, which preceded it, and the dissemination of its conclusions. The Department's total expenditure in support of the Strategic Forum in 2002–03 is expected to be approximately £110,000.
	Following the launch of "Accelerating Change" on 12 September 2002, day to day responsibility for the administration of the Strategic Forum passed from the Department to the construction industry. Officials and I in the Department continue to work closely with the Forum, its members and its new chairman, Peter Rogers. We will continue to identify areas where financial support from Government will allow the Forum to meet its aim of implementing the "Accelerating Change" proposals.

Departmental Expenditure

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what her estimate is of expenditure on ACAS in each year from 1990–91 to 2004–05 (planned); and if she will make a statement.

Patricia Hewitt: Information covering expenditure on ACAS is available in DTI's and prior to 1995 the Employment Department's expenditure plans. All documents are available in the Libraries of the House. The estimate for 2004–05 will be published shortly in my Department's expenditure plans report for 2003–04 to 2004–05.

Departmental Expenditure

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what her estimate is of total spending on the Export Credits Guarantee Department in each year from 1990–91 to 2004–05 (planned); and if she will make a statement.

Patricia Hewitt: The following table shows ECGD net operating income or expenditure (Column 1), voted payments or contributions on its trading operations (Column 2) and voted loan advances or income in respect of refinancing of loans underwritten (Column 3). Forecasts for 2004–05 have not been prepared at this stage.
	
		£000
		
			  Net operating income (expenditure) Trading operations—contribution to consolidated fund/(voted payments) Loan refinancing—(voted payments)/repayments 
			 Year Column 1 Column 2 Column 3 
		
		
			 1990–91 (649,500) (504,631) 0 
			 1991–92 169,900 (413,755) 0 
			 1992–93 570,100 (137,427) 0 
			 1993–94 407,500 396,860 0 
			 1994–95 208,200 149,612 0 
			 1995–96 342,400 496,066 0 
			 1996–97 1,032,300 565,985 0 
			 1997–98 (514,300) 464,684 0 
			 1998–99 136,900 416,429 (263,000) 
			 1999–2000 19,029 228,976 (979,100) 
			 2000–01 204,298 314,798 (1,345,356) 
			 2001–02 132,113 72,323 (388,740) 
			 2002–03(11) (58,700) 148,315 (557,000) 
			 2003–04(11) 101,000 105,736 405,000 
		
	
	(11) Estimate

Departmental Initiatives

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many (a) initiatives, (b) action programmes, (c) campaigns and (d) schemes are being run by her Department and its agencies; if she will list each of these with its annual cost; and if she will make a statement.

Patricia Hewitt: The Department's annual expenditure plans report contains information on the Department's activities and expenditure, including summary information on the work of DTI's agencies. Last year's report was published in June 2002 (Cm 5416) and can be found in the Libraries of the House. Next year's, which will cover 2003–04 to 2005–06, is due to be published in April. In addition, each agency publishes more detailed information on its work in its own annual report and accounts.

Domestic Violence

Margaret Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps she is taking to raise awareness in the workplace of domestic violence.

Alan Johnson: Often the workplace can be a place of safety for women. They may confide in their colleagues about their experiences. It is a place where others can notice what is going on, and where there is an opportunity to help women to access the support they can so desperately need.
	The TUC has recently published a workplace guide. This sets out guidance on how to provide a workplace policy on domestic violence, why it is an issue that matters in the workplace, and useful information contacts.
	Women's Aid, in association with Opportunity Now, are launching a Good Practice Guide for Employers on Domestic Violence on 2 April 2003.
	The Women and Equality Unit has been closely involved with both these initiatives.

Electricity (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill

Crispin Blunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many clauses were (a) fully, (b) partially and (c) not debated during the Committee Stage of the Electricity (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill.

Brian Wilson: The proceedings in Committee on 6 February, Official Report, columns 468–529, allowed the House to debate a number of amendments tabled by the hon. Member and the hon. Members for Twickenham (Dr. Cable) and Hazel Grove (Mr. Stunell).

Power Station Emissions

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what her assessment is of the effectiveness of emissions scrubbers in removing mercury pollutants from power station emissions.

Brian Wilson: There are a number of factors which affect the effectiveness of scrubbers removing mercury emissions. Around 40–60 per cent. of the mercury produced during coal combustion is in the elemental vapour form and the type of wet scrubbers used on coal-fired plant (eg flue gas desulphurisation (FGD) used for sulphur dioxide control) are not effective in removing this form of mercury from the flue gas. Of the remaining mercury, which is in an oxidised form, wet emissions scrubbers have been shown to be effective. In summary, it is estimated that about 50 per cent. of mercury produced is removed by wet scrubbers. There is no information on dry scrubbers although there is research being carried out on this.
	A study on the monitoring and control of trace elements from coal-fired power generation is about to be let within the DTI's Cleaner Coal Technology Programme and this will include mercury emissions, their measurement, and their effects, and will cover the emerging legislative and policy issues.

Fireworks Bill

Mike Wood: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the Government's policy is on the Fireworks Bill introduced by the hon. Member for Hamilton South.

Melanie Johnson: I announced that the Government will be supporting my hon. Friend's Bill on fireworks as published on 13 February, which will provide new powers to control the misuse of fireworks.

Fraud and Theft

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much money has been lost by her Department and its agencies and non-departmental public bodies through (a) fraud and (b) theft for each year since 1996–97.

Patricia Hewitt: The estimated cost of theft and fraud to the Department and its agencies is as follows.
	
		
			 Theft DTI (£) Agencies (£) 
		
		
			 1998 11,267 (12)— 
			 1999 10,985 (12)— 
			 2000 5,870 (12)— 
			 2001 18,782 (12)— 
			 2002 65,131 23,133 
		
	
	(12) Not available
	Information on thefts and losses in agencies is not normally held centrally in the DTI and it was not possible to identify costs for years before 2002 without incurring disproportionate cost. The DTI does not hold information on thefts in NDPBs.

Heritage Assets

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what sales of heritage assets and antique assets have been made by her Department since May 1997; and if she will list such assets; and if she will estimate the total sales proceeds.

Patricia Hewitt: The Department of Trade and Industry has not disposed of any heritage assets or antique assets since May 1997.

Manufacturing (Portsmouth)

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many and what percentage of the work force in Portsmouth (a) were employed in 1997 and (b) are employed in the manufacturing industry; and if she will make a statement.

Alan Johnson: In 1997 it was estimated that some 13,400 people, 13.6 per cent. of the work force were employed in the manufacturing sector in Portsmouth.
	In 2001, the latest date for which figures are available it was estimated that some 11,300 people, 11.4 per cent. of the work force were employed in the manufacturing sector in Portsmouth.

Ofgem

Mr. Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the qualifications of the Ofgem Board with responsibility for environmental matters.

Brian Wilson: The Gas and Electricity Markets Authority—the "board" for the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets—shares collective responsibility for decisions. I hope to make an announcement shortly of the results of an open competition to find an additional non-executive member of the Authority with particular environmental expertise.

Ofgem

Mr. Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to her answer of 27 January 2003, Official Report, column 595W, if she will list the independent interview panel members, with their qualifications, for (a) recent appointments of non-executive members of the Ofgem Board and (b) the appointment of the Chair of Ofgem; and if she will list all the members of the interview panels for (i) the appointment of non-executive members of the Ofgem Board in each of the last three years and (ii) those members of the interview panel for the appointment of the Chair of Ofgem.

Brian Wilson: The interview panels for the initial appointments of non-executive members to the Authority in 2000 comprised two senior civil servants, Anna Walker and Neil Hirst, and independent members John Shrigley (Civil Service Commissioner) and Philip Sellers (businessman and Chairman of the Audit Board for DTI). For subsequent non-executive appointments, Joan MacNaughton (Director General, Energy, DTI) replaced Anna Walker on the interview panel.
	The 1998 interview panel for the post of Director General of Gas Supply and Director General of Electricity Supply (and Chairman-designate of the Gas and Electricity Markets Authority) comprised three senior civil servants, Jeffrey Preston, Anna Walker, and Paul Salvidge, and Sir Bryan Nicholson (Chairman of BUPA) and Don Cruickshank (then Director General of Telecommunications).

Online Sales/Purchases

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what (a) products, (b) goods and (c) services were (i) bought and (ii) sold online by her Department in each of the last five years.

Patricia Hewitt: This information is not held centrally and can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Petrol Stations

Crispin Blunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many retail petrol filling stations there are in the UK; and how many there were in (a) 2000 and (b) 1997.

Brian Wilson: The Institute of Petroleum's (IP) annual "Retail Survey 2001" has provided the following data on the number of retail petrol filling stations in the UK.
	
		Number of retail petrol stations in the UK
		
			 End of 1997 End of 2000 End of 2002 
		
		
			 14,824 13,043 Yet to be published

Post Office Services

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations she has received about the ease of access to information about the Post Office bank account.

Stephen Timms: DTI Ministers and officials regularly receive representations from a wide range of people and organisations about universal banking service, including the Post Office card account.
	There will be post office access to a range of bank accounts. This will enable all those who wish to do so to continue to be able to collect their benefits in cash at post offices.
	Our aim is that people should be able to choose the option that suits them best. Information about all the options is being supplied to benefit, pension and tax credit customers by the Department for Work and Pensions and the Inland Revenue. Post Office Ltd. will also be making its own material available to customers.

Post Office Services

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the provision of banking services by sub-post offices in North Yorkshire from 1 April.

Stephen Timms: Good progress continues to be made on universal banking services in advance of the migration of benefit payments to ACT. Post Office Ltd. currently provides information to customers on banking arrangements at Post Office branches. There will be post office access to a range of bank accounts. This will enable all those who wish to do so to continue to be able to collect their benefits in cash at post offices.
	The Government and Post Office Ltd. are working together to ensure that frontline staff have all the information they need to answer any questions from customers about banking facilities in Post Office branches.
	Post Office Ltd. has now sent three pieces of communication to all Post Office branches: a leaflet entitled "Your essential guide to your customers' banking options" to explain to sub-postmasters all the options available to customers; a customer child benefit leaflet for issue to customers; and a Banking Information Pack.

Post Office Services

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what promotion her Department has undertaken of the (a) Post Office Card Account and (b) high street banking options for receipt of benefits, pension payments and tax credits; and what discussions she has had on such promotion with the other Departments involved in the services covered by these methods.

Stephen Timms: There will be post office access to a range of bank accounts. This will enable all those who wish to do so to continue to be able to collect their benefits in cash at post offices. Information about all the options is being supplied to benefit, pension and tax credit customers by the Department for Work and Pensions and the Inland Revenue. Post Office Ltd. will also be making its own material available to customers.
	Ministers and officials have regular contact with all the Departments involved.

Post Office Services

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions she has had with the Post Office to ensure that they will be able to cope with the effect on income of recipients choosing to pick up their benefits from cash machines or through banks without closures.

Stephen Timms: Ministers and officials have regular contact with Post Office Ltd. The Post Office's strategy is to respond to the Direct Payment with a range of banking and other services. How the migration of benefit payments affects the revenue of post offices will depend on a number of factors, not least how benefit recipients and other post office customers respond to change. In the meantime the Government have made a firm commitment to prevent avoidable rural closures, in the first instance to 2006; and we are investing very substantial sums in supporting the network through the
	challenges ahead—some £2 billion in total over the next five years.
	A carefully planned programme of reductions in the number of urban post offices commenced recently.

Departmental Buildings

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether a building research establishment environmental assessment method document has been prepared for the refurbishment of (a) Elizabeth House, (b) 1 Victoria Street and (c) 10 Victoria Street.

Patricia Hewitt: A BREEAM assessment was undertaken as part of the 1995–96 major refurbishment project at 1 Victoria Street; it achieved a "very good" rating. The extent of works, at 10 Victoria Street in 1996, and at Elizabeth House in 2002, was not regarded as substantial refurbishment and a BREEAM assessment was not deemed appropriate.
	In 1999 the Department's Estates and Facilities Management Directorate was accredited to International Standard for Environmental Management System (ISO 14001), which provides the framework within which all the Department's refurbishment projects, including that at Elizabeth House, are now carried out.

Renewable Energy

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans there are for an extension of the Renewables Obligation to include Coal Mine Methane.

Brian Wilson: holding answer 6 February 2003
	The Government consider that extending the Renewables Obligation to include Coal Mine Methane would not be consistent with the objectives of the Obligation, since Coal Mine Methane is, self-evidently, not a renewable.
	However, we are very supportive of this industry and are keen to help it expand so that it can continue to reduce emissions throughout the UK. We have already demonstrated this support through our securing exemption from the Climate Change Levy for electricity generated from CMM in last year's budget, and this is currently being cleared with the European Commission.

Scottish Parliamentary Elections

Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the estimated total cost is to the Post Office of providing free delivery of party election literature during the forthcoming Scottish Parliamentary elections.

Stephen Timms: Cost is a matter that falls within the day-to-day responsibility of Royal Mail Group plc and I have therefore asked the Chairman to reply direct to the hon. Member.

Selective Financial Assistance

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much selective financial assistance was given to companies outside the assisted areas in each year between 1989–90 and 2001–02; and what her estimate is for the current fiscal year (a) in cash terms and (b) at constant 2001–02 prices.

Patricia Hewitt: holding answer 12 February 2003
	Details of the Department's financial assistance to companies outside the assisted areas can be obtained in the annual Industrial Development Act reports which are available in the House of Commons Library. A number of national programmes have assisted companies both within and outside assisted areas but a breakdown of this expenditure could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Data for Scotland and Wales can be obtained from the Scottish Executive and the National Assembly for Wales respectively.

Supermarkets

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps the Director General of Fair Trading has taken, and what arrangements the Director General has in place, to monitor the compliance with and effectiveness of the Supermarket Code of Practice; whether the arrangements for monitoring have changed since the publication of the Government's strategy for Sustainable Farming and Food; and if she will make a statement.

Patricia Hewitt: holding answer 12 February 2003
	The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) visited relevant trade bodies to explain how the Code of Practice would work, and to encourage them to bring any problems to the attention of the OFT. The Code also provides for the independent dispute mediator to report annually to the Director General of Fair Trading (DGFT) on his or her activities, and to supply information requested by the DGFT concerning individual cases where he or she is considering taking action.
	In the context of the Government's strategy on Sustainable Farming and Food, the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has proposed that relevant trade bodies advise it at six-monthly intervals on the operation of the Code. The OFT will publish an annual report on how the Code has been working, particularly in relation to dispute resolution. The OFT will soon be beginning a review of the Code in preparation for its first annual report and will be contacting all interested trade bodies and the supermarkets to obtain views on the Code's operation.

Supermarkets

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the Supermarket Code of Practice on Supermarkets' Dealings with Suppliers applies to the supermarkets' trading relationships with farmers and others who supply the supermarkets indirectly through an intermediary; and if she will make a statement.

Patricia Hewitt: holding answer 12 February 2003
	The Code defines a supplier as any person actually or potentially carrying on business in the supply of groceries to any of the four supermarkets which have given statutory undertakings to abide by the Code, namely Asda, Tesco, Sainsburys and Safeway. This includes any supplier who acts as principal in providing groceries to supermarkets either direct or through an agent. However, this does not include suppliers that sell goods to an intermediary which then sells on to a supermarket.

Supermarkets

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  how many times the services of a mediator have been offered by supermarkets under paragraph 27 of the Code of Practice on Supermarkets' Dealings with Suppliers; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  how many disputes the Director General of Fair Trading has been notified of under paragraph 28 of the Code of Practice on Supermarkets' Dealings with Suppliers; if she will place a copy of information that has been supplied to the Director General of Fair Trading in accordance with provisions of paragraphs 30(a) and 30(b) of the Code of Practice in the Library; and if she will make a statement.

Patricia Hewitt: holding answers 12 February 2003
	The dispute resolution procedures, under paragraph 28 of the Code of Practice, have so far not been invoked. To date, the supermarkets have not been called upon to offer the services of a independent mediator.

Supermarkets

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many submissions were received by the Office of Fair Trading in connection with the Tesco acquisition of T&S; how many of these were from third parties raising concerns about the impact on their business as a result of the proposed acquisition; if she will place a copy of the submissions in the Library; and if she will make a statement.

Patricia Hewitt: holding answer 12 February 2003
	The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) received 83 submissions in connection with the proposed acquisition by Tesco PLC of T&S Stores PLC, of which 72 were from third parties raising concerns about possible impacts on their business. It is strict OFT policy to observe confidentiality in all aspects of its operation and, as part of this, the identity of those third parties making representations is not made public. It would not, therefore, be appropriate to place a copy of the submissions in the Library.
	The OFT, as an independent competition authority, conducted an inquiry into the proposed merger, focusing on the effects of the merger on competition. It recommended that the merger should not be referred to the Competition Commission for an in-depth inquiry. In line with the Government's policy of accepting the advice of the OFT on merger references in all bar exceptional circumstances, on 17 December 2002 I announced that I would not make a reference in this case.

United Kingdom Accreditation Service

Mark Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the legal status is of the Memorandum of Understanding between her and the United Kingdom Accreditation Service.

Patricia Hewitt: Article 15 of the Memorandum of Understanding with the United Kingdom Accreditation Service clearly states that this memorandum does not create any rights, liabilities or obligations which would have binding effect in law.

United Kingdom Accreditation Service

Mark Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what she is doing to encourage conformity assessment bodies to seek accreditation from the United Kingdom Accreditation Service, pursuant to Article 2 of the Memorandum of Understanding between her and the United Kingdom Accreditation Service, including those upon whose services the Government relies for (a) procurement and (b) regulatory purposes.

Patricia Hewitt: It is DTI policy to encourage all conformity assessment bodies to seek accreditation from the United Kingdom Accreditation Service wherever it is an option notwithstanding that accreditation is a voluntary and market driven activity. It does this: by ensuring that UKAS is operating effectively in accordance with its obligations in the DTI/UKAS Memorandum of Understanding; by helping UKAS to promote the benefits of UKAS accreditation through its Accreditation Awareness Campaign; and through regular contact with the conformity assessment community and other Government Departments. In their contacts with other Government Departments and other parts of DTI, whenever there is a requirement for conformity assessment, my officials encourage their colleagues to rely upon UKAS accredited conformity assessment.

United Kingdom Accreditation Service

Mark Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the United Kingdom Accreditation Service is (a) a non-profit-distributing and (b) a non-profit making company.

Patricia Hewitt: The United Kingdom Accreditation Service was established in 1995 as a private company limited by guarantee. While UKAS may make a profit, any that is made is not distributed but is channelled back into the company.

United Kingdom Accreditation Service

Mark Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps her Department takes to ensure that the United Kingdom Accreditation Service polices use of the national accreditation marks which feature the Royal Crown.

Patricia Hewitt: The national accreditation marks are the property of my Department and are covered by a Licensing Agreement which licences the United Kingdom Accreditation Service to use the marks and to sub-licence them to accredited organisations. The Licensing Agreement requires UKAS to register the marks with the Trade Marks Registry and gives UKAS the responsibility for encouraging that the use of the national accreditation marks is in accordance with the requirements set down in the conditions for the use of national accreditation marks by UKAS and UKAS accredited organisations. UKAS assessors as part of the accreditation process ensure that the accredited bodies comply with the conditions and in turn, ensure that where such bodies confer the right to use the marks to their own customers, that the customers also comply. The obligations under the Licensing Agreement are also the subject of a periodic third-party audit. My officials are in regular contact with UKAS over a number of issues including the monitoring of the use of the marks as part of the oversight responsibilities of my Department.

United Kingdom Accreditation Service

Mark Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what financial support her Department provides to the United Kingdom Accreditation Service; and for what purpose.

Patricia Hewitt: The United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) is a private company and its core services are self-financed through the charging of fees to its direct customers. However, my Department has a three-year contract with UKAS to enable it to represent the United Kingdom in the international accreditation fora (European Co-operation for Accreditation, International Accreditation Forum and International Laboratory Accreditation Co-operation) so that it can play a major influencing role in the development of accreditation internationally. In addition, since November 2000, my Department has supported a UKAS Accreditation Awareness Campaign to help raise awareness to business and to other parts of government of the benefits of using UKAS accredited services. This campaign meets our own policy objective of encouraging businesses to use accredited conformity assessment wherever it is an option. DTI support covers 50 per cent. of the cost of certain elements of the campaign and is agreed on an annual basis.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Lake Windermere

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what implications the introduction of the Navigation By Law 1992 for Lake Windermere has for (a) other national parks and (b) access for sport and recreation.

Alun Michael: The byelaws deal with the particular circumstances applying on Lake Windermere. Government policy on recreation in national parks is set out in Circular 12/96, which enjoins national park authorities to promote the widest range of recreational opportunities while fully respecting the special qualities of the parks. The circular acknowledges that the intrusive nature of some recreational activities may unacceptably affect other people's enjoyment of these nationally important areas. No particular opportunities should be excluded from the parks as a matter of principle.
	The byelaws are expected to cause fast power boating to cease on Lake Windermere, together with associated activities, of which waterskiing is the most popular. On the other hand more people may be attracted to engage in other water-based recreational pursuits when what has been seen as a fundamental problem of incompatibility between power boating and lower key activities has been solved.

Lake Windermere

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what consultations the Lake District National Park Authority has undertaken with (a) local recreational users, (b) businesses and (c) lake users from outside the national park on proposals to introduce a speed limit on Lake Windermere;
	(2)  what estimate she has made of (a) job losses and (b) loss of revenue at Lake Windermere arising from the application of the Navigation (Amendment) (No 2) Bylaw 1992 in 2005.

Alun Michael: Wide consultation and a careful examination of the implications was undertaken. The Lake District National Park Authority consulted over 50 organisations representing recreational and business interests both locally and nationally, before advertising proposals locally. The authority then considered all representations in response to the advertisement before making the byelaws that will introduce a speed limit.
	The implications of the byelaws were examined in detail in 1996 at a public local inquiry held by an independent inspector. The issues examined included potential job losses and loss of revenue. The inspector concluded that the strong need for the speed limit had to be balanced against the possibility of some limited economic disruption. He found the overall balance clearly in favour of confirmation of the byelaws. In February 2000, after further views had been invited, the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for the then Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions agreed with the inspector's conclusion. He observed that the tourist profile in the region might alter but that it was not clear whether this would result in a net economic loss or a gain.
	The byelaws came into operation on 29 March 2000 and the Secretary of State has no role in their implementation. The five year lapse until the speed limit comes into effect in 2005 should allow businesses and people who engage in power boating and waterskiing to make alternative arrangements.

Sustainable Development

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will require Departments to produce (a) their own sustainable development strategies within a year and (b) annual reports showing what progress has been made in meeting sustainable development targets.

Michael Meacher: Of the central Government Departments that report via the Sustainable Development in Government Initiative, three have formal sustainable strategies (Defra, DTI, DWP) 11 have policy statements or other arrangements to manage their sustainable development impacts (C&E, CO, CPS, DFID, DH, FCO, HMT, IR, LCD, MOD, ONS) four have strategies under development (DCMS, DFES, ECGD, HO). DfT and ODPM are considering their approaches in light of the Machinery of Government changes in May 2002. Where they are not doing so, we are encouraging them all to produce their own sustainable development strategies.
	Progress by all Departments against cross-Government sustainable development targets is reported via the sustainable development in Government annual report. The first report was published in November 2002. Part A of the Framework for Sustainable Development on the Government Estate requires all Departments to identify their significant sustainable development impacts and review their public reporting arrangements. Departments are due to publish their revised reporting arrangements by April 2003.

Vehicle Emissions

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent estimate she has made of the impact on global warming of automotive emissions of one tonne to the atmosphere of (a) particulates, (b) fine particulates, (c) sulphur dioxide, (d) carbon dioxide, (e) benzene, (f) butadiene, (g) carbon monoxide and (h) oxides of nitrogen.

Michael Meacher: The substances listed above all have some impact on global warming, but the effect is indirect in some cases. It is not possible to calculate the specific impact on global warming of one tonne of each of the above substances, as this amount is relatively small in comparison to emission values used for climate calculations.
	(a) and (b) Large amounts of particles, known as aerosol, can either have a cooling effect on the climate by reflecting incoming solar radiation back out to space, or a warming effect, by absorbing radiation. Aerosols have a relatively short residence time in the atmosphere so their influence tends to be short-lived and regional in nature.
	(c) Sulphur dioxide is an indirect greenhouse gas, as it takes part in atmospheric reactions that form products that effect the climate. These reactions include some that lead to the formation of sulphate aerosol, which tends to have a cooling effect on climate, and some leading to the formation of tropospheric ozone, which is a potent greenhouse gas.
	(d) Carbon dioxide is the only direct greenhouse gas listed. It is the benchmark for determining the global warming potential (GWP) of other direct and indirect greenhouse gases and has a GWP of 1. Concentrations of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere are increasing at a rate unprecedented in at least the last 20,000 years.
	(e) and (f) Benzene and butadiene are both Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). They take part in atmospheric reactions related to the formation of tropospheric ozone, and act to increase levels of this greenhouse gas in the atmosphere.
	(g) and (h) Nitrogen oxides (NOx) and carbon monoxide (CO) are indirect greenhouse gases. They take part in reactions that enhance the formation of tropospheric ozone and influence the lifetime of methane—the second most potent direct greenhouse gas—and other greenhouse gases.

Vehicle Emissions

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the external costs of automotive emissions of one tonne to the atmosphere of (a) particulates, (b) fine particulates, (c) sulphur dioxide, (d) carbon dioxide, (e) benzene, (f) 1, 3 butadiene, (g) carbon monoxide and (h) oxides of nitrogen.

Michael Meacher: Considerable research is in hand to improve the scientific and economic understanding of the health and environmental damages of air pollution. This work will provide important evidence on which policies will be further developed.
	The Air Quality Strategy sets standards and objectives for particulates (PM10), sulphur dioxide, benzene, 1,3 butadiene, carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide to be reached between 2003 and 2010. The Government have not published formal estimates of the air quality external costs per tonne of automotive emissions. The external costs of a tonne of emission from a vehicle will vary according to the pollutant in question, the type of vehicle and fuel used, where the vehicle is emitting as well as many other factors.
	A Government Economic Service working paper has suggested a range from £35/tC to £140/tC (with a best estimate of £70t/C) as illustrative of the global damage cost of carbon emissions. It also suggested that these figures should be raised in real terms by £1t/C per annum as the costs of climate change are likely to increase over time. These values are currently under review following recent advances in the academic literature, and general developments in the UK Government economic appraisal guidance (such as the new Treasury Green Book).

Agricultural Holdings

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent estimate she has made of the (a) minimum income, (b) minimum standard man day and (c) minimum whole time equivalents required to maintain a viable agricultural holding across all sectors.

Elliot Morley: No specific estimates of this type have been made as the level of income and labour required to maintain a viable agricultural holding is a matter for the individual farmer. An assessment was made of current and future business prospects for farming in analysis produced to accompany the launch of 'The Strategy for Sustainable Farming and Food'. This can be found at htto://www.defra.gov.uk/farm/sustain/newstrategy/econ/section1.pdf

Animal Welfare

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures have been introduced by the Government to improve the welfare of animals, with particular reference to enforcement measures.

Elliot Morley: The Government recognise the need to ensure that existing animal welfare legislation is effectively enforced to ensure compliance with the standards. Co-ordination of enforcement across the different enforcement agencies, such as the state veterinary service and local authorities is a priority task. We have for some time been investing resource to ensure development of closer working relationships between relevant bodies, through for example, regular liaison meetings.
	The issue of animal welfare enforcement is one of the key issues under consideration in the new Animal Welfare Bill which will consolidate and modernise domestic and captive animal welfare legislation.

Bees

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans her Department has to increase funding for programmes aimed at preventing the spread of bee diseases.

Elliot Morley: The Department has no plans to increase its level of expenditure on the programme of measures that are undertaken to protect bee health in England.

Bees

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the health of the beekeeping industry in the UK.

Elliot Morley: Of the 44,000 beekeepers in the UK about 400 operate on a commercial basis. Since 1992, the greatest single challenge to beekeeping has been the need to control the parasitic mite, varroa, which was first detected in England in that year. With Government help, beekeepers generally have learned to apply good husbandry techniques to control this threat. The market for, and interest in, honey produced in the UK has received a boost as a result of the ban on imports of honey from China in early 2002.

Bees

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the environmental role played by honey bees in pollinating (a) orchards and (b) agricultural crops.

Elliot Morley: In July 2001, the Department received from ADAS Consulting Ltd. an independent economic policy evaluation of our bee health programme. The ADAS researchers noted in their findings the public good dimensions of bee health, in particular the benefits to society arising from pollination services, including commercial crops, domestic and wild plants. They estimated the value of pollination of commercial crops at around £120 million, with orchards accounting for £79 million and agricultural crops £21 million of this total respectively.

Biodiesel

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessments she has made on the impact of changes in duty for biodiesel on British agriculture.

Michael Meacher: Biodiesel could offer an opportunity for diversification of agricultural activities and the development of new markets. Following the introduction of the reduction in duty by 20 pence per litre, compared to ultra-low sulphur diesel, in July 2002, we have yet to see biodiesel produced from British-grown oilseed rape. The duty cut is, however, already bringing forward production of biodiesel from used vegetable oil and over 60 forecourts in the UK are already retailing biodiesel. To develop biodiesel production from feedstocks from British agriculture, the return to farmers will need to be sufficient to compete with established food and animal feed markets which currently offer higher prices.

Capita

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his answer of 9 January, Official Report, column 172W, on Capita, if he will list (a) each contract's number, (b) the value of each contract and (c) the length of each contract.

David Blunkett: holding answer 11 February 2003
	Detailed contract information in the format requested is not readily available and due to commercial confidentiality I am unable to give the value for each individual contract. However, I am able to provide a total value for contracts placed, together with the length of each contract. This information is provided in the table.
	
		
			 Contract Contract length 
		
		
			 Designing and Managing Building Projects (13)5 years 
			 Environment/Space Planning 2 Years 
			 Criminal Records Bureau 10 years 
			 HMP Blakenhurst Bid 1 year 
			 Recruitment 1 year 
			 IND Recruitment 1 year 
			 Recruitment of General Managers 1 year 
			 Conferences and Training 1 year 
			 Provision of Human Resources Staff (13)1 year 
			 Finance related work (13)1 year 
			 Management Recruitment Scheme 6 months 
			 Civil Service Short Answer Test 6 months 
			 Multi-Disciplinary Term Commission Contract 3 years 
			 Consultancy Support 1 year 
			 Production of Purchase Manual 4 months 
			 Efficiency Review 3 months 
			 Quantum Project 1 year 
			 Total value £405,110,501 
		
	
	(13) Contract for which Capita was not the prime contractor.

Capita

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to her answer of 5 February, on Capita (ref 89967) if she will list for each of the contracts awarded by her Department to Capita since 1997 (a) the start and finish date of contract, (b) the value of contract, (c) the evaluation mechanism for successful delivery of contract, (d) the penalty charges for failure to deliver, (e) if penalty charges have been incurred, (f) the service level agreements and (g) the contract numbers; and if she will make a statement.

Alun Michael: Defra came into being on 8 June 2001. The information can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Foot and Mouth Disease

Diana Organ: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many carcases were disposed of at Cleeve Farm, Westbury-on-Severn, Gloucestershire in the last five years.

Elliot Morley: According to our records, 2,725 carcases were disposed of at Cleeve Farm, Westbury-on-Severn on a series of pyres. This figure comprises 337 carcases originating from Cleeve Farm and 2,388 carcases subsequently brought onto the site for disposal, from surrounding farms.

Foot and Mouth Disease

Alan Beith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether the burning of carcases of cattle over five years old on the Hemscott Hill site precludes its use for animal grazing this year; and if she will publish the risk assessment carried out into the site by Dr. Kirkup, the Regional Director of Public Health.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 10 February 2003
	Veterinary advice confirms that the burning of carcases of cattle over five years old at the Hemscott Hill mass pyre site does not preclude its use for animal grazing this year.
	The ADAS environmental risk assessment and supporting material, together with a statement by the Regional Director of Public Health, North East, Dr. Kirkup, has been given to Castle Morpeth borough council, the Food Standards Agency and the local liaison committee. I am arranging for a copy of this material to be sent to the right hon. Member.

Cetaceans

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what plans the Government have to reduce the number of fishing nets which cause harm to dolphins;
	(2)  what steps the Government are taking to protect dolphins and porpoises in the British Isles.

Elliot Morley: Action to address the issue of dolphin and porpoise by-catch needs to be taken internationally, as fishing vessels from many countries are involved. We have been pressing for such action and have commissioned a programme of research and development to reinforce our arguments. Urgent action is needed in the pair trawl fishery for bass off South West England, in which the substantial bulk of vessels are from other member states. Our research programme identified a significant by-catch problem in this fishery and is now trialling a possible gear solution. This looks promising, and I am determined to achieve a solution by this or other means. The second urgent need is to deploy EU observers to identify and assess other problem fisheries. In recent weeks we have advanced the case for action by intervening at the January meeting of the Council of Agriculture and Fisheries Ministers, and I have since followed this up by writing to Commissioner Fischler. In addition, with the devolved Administrations, I will shortly be issuing a consultation document outlining a UK by-catch response strategy.

Cetaceans

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the use of fishing net-based detectors to prevent the accidental drowning of dolphins and porpoises.

Elliot Morley: The Sea Mammal Research Unit have undertaken trials on the use of detectors as part of their work on behalf of this Department into dolphin and porpoise by catch. To date, this research has demonstrated that detectors may have a role in monitoring the behaviour of dolphin and porpoises around fishing gear but that acoustic deterrent devices (known as pingers) and other gear adjustments have greater potential to prevent bycatch.

Computer Crime

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many cases of computer (a) hacking, (b) fraud and (c) theft her Department recorded in 2001–02; and on how many occasions computer systems have been illegally accessed by computer hackers (i) within and (ii) outside her Department.

Alun Michael: The Department was formed on 9 June 2001 so figures reflect the period 9 June 2001 to 31 December 2002. Figures are not available prior to this date.
	(a) During this period there were no cases of computer hacking detected.
	(b) During this period there were no cases of computer fraud detected.
	(c) The number of cases of computer theft detected was 27. It is not possible to provide accurate figures for whether these thefts were perpetrated by insiders or by persons outside the Department because some internal and police investigations did not provide conclusive evidence.

Departmental Budgets

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what the allocated budgets are for each of the internal directorates for her Department in (a) 2003–04, (b) 2004–05 and (c) 2005–06;
	(2)  what the allocated budgets are for each of her Department's executive agencies for (a) 2003–04, (b) 2004–05 and (c) 2005–06;
	(3)  what the combined allocated budgets are for her Department's non-departmental public bodies in (a) 2003–04, (b) 2004–05 and (c) 2005–06.

Alun Michael: Details of allocated budgets up to 2005–06 will be published in the spring 2003 departmental report. The information will include how budgets are allocated to deliver the Department's functions and objectives.

Entertainment

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her estimate is of the total spending of her Department on entertainment in each year from 1994–95 to 2002–03; and if she will make a statement.

Alun Michael: The information for Defra is as follows:
	2001–02: £239,000 (outturn)
	2002–03: £384,000 (estimate)
	It should be noted that Defra only came into being in 2001.
	All expenditure on official entertainment is made in accordance with published departmental guidance on financial procedures and propriety, based on the principles set out in "Government Accounting".

Equine Welfare (Ragwort Control) Bill

Mike Wood: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the Government's policy is on the Equine Welfare (Ragwort Control) Bill introduced by the hon. Member for Ryedale (Mr. Greenway).

Alun Michael: The Government will consider the Equine Welfare (Ragwort Control) Bill in accordance with the procedures established for dealing with Private Member's Bills. These procedures provide for a debate at the appropriate time and the Government's position will be made clear at that stage.
	Defra is already taking steps to control the spread of Ragwort in accordance with the procedures set out in my response given to the hon. Member for Totnes (Mr. Steen) on 7 November 2002, Official Report, columns 685–86W.

European Environment Agency

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what direct relations she has with the European Environment Agency; and in what circumstances.

Michael Meacher: My officials are in regular contact with the agency through membership of the management board and co-operating with the agency as active participants in the European Environment Information and Observation Network (EIONET) as established under the founding Council Regulation (EEC) No. 1210/90 as amended by Council Regulation (EC) No. 933/1999.
	My officials are also working closely with the EEA in their production of a state of the environment report for the forthcoming Kiev Conference. I personally met the last executive director on a number of occasions and have visited the agency in Copenhagen.

Flooding

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with the Environment Agency on new sources of income for flood defence from (a) councils and (b) households in flood-zone areas.

Elliot Morley: Discussions have been held with the Environment Agency on these and other issues raised in the current Flood and Coastal Defence Funding Review. I will make an announcement on the conclusions of the review as soon as possible.

Flooding

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much has been spent on flood defence work in Sussex in each of the last six years; and if she will list the location of the major projects.

Elliot Morley: Defra provides grant aid to the flood and coastal defence operating authorities—the Environment Agency (EA), local authorities and (in areas with special drainage needs) internal drainage boards. The EA is responsible for managing flood risk from designated main rivers and the sea and carries out the majority of publicly funded flood risk works. The table details EA expenditure on flood defence work in Sussex over the last six years:
	
		£000
		
			 Financial year Capital expenditure Non-capital expenditure Total 
		
		
			 1996–97 4,289 1,175 5,464 
			 1997–98 4,315 1,569 5,884 
			 1998–99 3,856 1,185 5,041 
			 1999–2000 3,456 2,021 5,477 
			 2000–01 2,705 1,663 4,368 
			 2001–02 4,134 2,242 6,376 
			 2002–03(14) 9,532 2,094 11,626 
		
	
	(14) To December 2002
	The major EA projects are as follows:
	River Lavant Flood Alleviation Scheme (Chichester)
	Bulverhythe Enhancement of Protection
	Shoreham/Lancing Phase 2—Kingswalk
	Felpham Sea Defences
	Pevensey Bay Sea Defences
	West Common Stream (Haywards Heath)
	Seaford Beach Management
	Shoreham/Lancing Phase 3
	Medmerry continued maintenance
	Storrington
	Sovereign Harbour (Eastbourne)
	Information on works promoted by the other operating authorities in the area is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Flooding

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which local authorities have no plans to hold flood emergency exercises in accordance with her Department's high level targets.

Margaret Beckett: One of our high level targets requires the Environment Agency to arrange a programme of emergency exercises in conjunction with local authorities, emergency services and other partners. A national exercise, and an exercise in each agency region and local area, should be conducted at not more than three-yearly intervals. We are not aware of any local authorities that are not prepared to co-operate.

Flooding

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to her answer of 20 January, Official Report, column 10W, if she will provide a breakdown of expenditure in the years (a) 2000–01, (b) 2001–02 and (c) 2002–03 of the Environment Agency in England for managing flood risk from main rivers and the sea in respect of each project worth £1 million or more.

Margaret Beckett: holding answer 3 February 2003
	Defra provides grant aid as a percentage of eligible costs to the Environment Agency to assist with its capital works and related studies to manage flood risk. The agency does not maintain central records of expenditure in the form requested and therefore the information could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However a table showing agency capital projects costing in excess of £1 million on which grant has been claimed, has been placed in the Library of the House. This does not include expenditure ineligible for grant such as project management costs which can form between 15 per cent. and 25 per cent. of the total project cost. Nor does the list include projects pursued by the agency without Defra grant aid.

Flooding

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many letters (a) her Department and (b) the Environment Agency has received from (i) hon. Members and (ii) members of the public regarding the flooding in the Christmas 2002 and new year period 2003.

Elliot Morley: The Department has received 41 letters from hon. Members and 33 letters from members of the public. The Environment Agency has received 72 letters from hon. Members and 506 letters from members of the public.

Fly-tipping

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her Department's policy on fly-tipping on forest land is (a) generally and (b) where it is owned by the City of London Corporation; what her policy is in cases where it is her opinion that (i) a local authority and (ii) the Environment Agency should make greater efforts to remove fly-tipped rubbish from forest land; and if she will make a statement.

Michael Meacher: Fly tipping is the same offence no matter where it occurs and the Government do not have different policies on clearing fly tipped waste from different types of land. Powers are provided to both local authorities and the Environment Agency under Section 59 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 to allow them to clear fly tipped waste and to recover the costs of doing so from either the perpetrators of the crime or the occupants of the land unless they can demonstrate that they did not knowingly allow or permit the fly tipping to take place.
	The circumstances in which (i) the local authority and (ii) the Environment Agency should clear the waste are set out in the fly tipping protocol which has been agreed between the Local Government Association and the agency. Under the protocol, local authorities deal with fly tipping of non-special waste, and the agency deals with fly tipping of special/ hazardous waste.
	The Government are keen to do more to empower both local authorities and the agency to deal with fly tipping on all forms of land, since we recognise that it is a growing anti-social problem. We are currently considering bringing forward changes to legislation in consultation with other Government Departments, the local government associations and the agency.

Heathrow (Emissions)

Jonathan Sayeed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the annual emission was of (a) NOx, (b) SOx, (c) particulates and (d) CO2 at London Heathrow Airport in the last year for which figures are available.

Alun Michael: The following table shows estimated emissions of NOx, SOx, particulates (PM10 ), and CO2 for London Heathrow Airport in 2000 (the latest year for which figures are available).
	
		Estimated emissions for Heathrow Airport in 2000
		
			  Tonnes 
		
		
			  
			  
			 NOX (nitrogen dioxide) 8,949 
			 SOX (sulphur dioxide) 414 
			 CO2 (carbon dioxide) 1,397,770 
			 Particles (as PM10 ) 102 
		
	
	Source:
	National Environment Technology Centre. These cover emissions from aircraft and airside vehicles within the perimeter of the airport. Emissions are calculated from aircraft movement data for the airport in 2000 and aircraft emission factors used in the 1998 Heathrow Inventory study. Aircraft emissions during complete take off and landing cycle up to1,000 m are allocated to the airport. Consequently a proportion of the emissions are emitted at some height and horizontal distance from the boundaries of the airport.

Hunting Bill

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what discussions she has had about re-housing hunt workers of hunts which fail to achieve registration under the Hunting Bill;
	(2)  what estimate she has made of the housing consequences of the Hunting Bill.

Alun Michael: It is not possible to predict the precise impact of the Hunting Bill on housing.
	Where the activity is banned absolutely, as in the case of deer hunting and hare coursing, it would be prudent of employers and employees affected to plan for that eventuality and to seek out the available assistance.

Hunting Bill

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  if she will make a statement on the human rights implications of the prohibition of hunting where there are subsisting contracts for providing hunting facilities;
	(2)  whether she has identified obstacles to certifying that the Hunting Bill does not conflict with human rights; and if she will make a statement;
	(3)  what representations she has received about the human rights implications of the Hunting Bill.

Alun Michael: The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has signed a statement, under section 19(1)(a) of the Human Rights Act 1998, that in her view the provisions of the Hunting Bill are compatible with the Convention rights on the basis that she was satisfied no obstacles prevented her from so doing.
	It is the Government's view that the requirements of the Hunting Bill would, for the purposes of Article 1 of Protocol 1 to the European Convention on Human Rights, amount to an interference with the use and enjoyment of property rather than a deprivation of property, and that accordingly no compensation should be payable for any economic losses that may be suffered as a consequence of the Bill by the persons concerned.
	There are numerous occasions where new legislation interferes with existing contractual rights without the individuals being compensated. In this respect the Government consider that persons entering contracts in connection with hunting with dogs have no legitimate expectation that any or all types of this activity would continue to be lawful. The contracting parties will have been aware for a considerable period of time of the intention of the Government to legislate on hunting with dogs, and the present Bill is the result of an extensive and well-publicised process of consultation over a long period.
	The detailed reasons for this view are set out in a memorandum submitted by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 31 January 2003 in response to a letter from the Chair of the Joint Committee on Human Rights to the Minister for Rural Affairs of 21 January 2003. The Committee indicated that, subject to this point, their provisional opinion was that the present Hunting Bill is compatible with the relevant human rights obligations.
	Representations on the Hunting Bill which relate to human rights issues have been couched in general terms and have included the suggestion that the continuation of traditional forms of hunting is or should be protected by the European Convention on Human Rights. There have also been references to the rights protected by the United Kingdom's international commitments under the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development 1992, in particular Principle 22 which refers to the role indigenous people and their communities play in relation to environmental management and development. Other representations have argued that there is no right to be cruel.

Landfill

Robert Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when and how the Government informed the European Commission of its intention to postpone the attainment of the targets set out in Article 5.2 of the Council Directive 1999/31/EC on the landfill of waste.

Michael Meacher: Under the terms of the Landfill Directive, those member states who are to make use of the derogation to postpone the attainment of the reductions in the landfill of biodegradable municipal waste targets by a period not exceeding four years shall inform the Commission in advance. The final decision on whether we will make use of the derogation will be taken the year before each target year (2005 for target year 2006, 2008 for 2009 and 2015 for 2016). If the decision is to make use of the derogation for that target year, then the Commission will be informed accordingly.

Landfill

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether her Department is preparing to implement the Landfill Directive by 2016.

Michael Meacher: Yes, preparations are in hand to support our aim of meeting the Landfill Directive's final biodegradable municipal waste reduction target by 2016.

Landfill

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether the operator for the Wortley tip at the Cabbage Hill site in the Leeds, West constituency has submitted a conditioning plan to the Environmental Agency; and whether it has applied to operate as a hazardous waste site.

Michael Meacher: No; the operator has not submitted a conditioning plan for this site and has therefore not applied to operate as a hazardous waste site.
	A list of all those landfill operators who have submitted a conditioning plan to the Environment Agency is available on the agency website at www.environment-aqency.gov.uk .

Radioactive Material

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her policy is on the free release of radioactive material; what thresholds apply to such releases; and what quantities have been released in each year since 1997.

Michael Meacher: holding answer 13 February 2003
	Responsibility for the policy with respect to radioactivity in the environment rests with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
	Under section 13 of the Radioactive Substances Act 1993 (RSA 93) the disposal of radioactive material requires authorization. The regulation of radioactive waste, under RSA 93, in England and Wales, is the responsibility of the Environment Agency and a system of "discharge authorizations" is used to control the nature and quantities of radioactive waste that may be discharged into the environment from any site. However, under the Radioactive Substances (Substances of Low Activity) Exemption Order 1986 solid radioactive waste that is substantially insoluble in water and that has activity of less than 0.4 Becquerel/gram is exempt from the controls under RSA 93, so-called "free release". As such waste is exempt from regulatory control, no centrally held records are kept of the quantities that have been released.

Radioactive Material

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment has been conducted (a) by and (b) for her Department on the effectiveness of RIMNET 3; and if she will place copies of such research in the Library.

Michael Meacher: The Radioactive Incident Monitoring Network (RIMNET) Phase 3 system is currently under development, as explained in my previous answer on 20 January 2003, Official Report, column 105W.
	The specification for RIMNET 3 was based upon the proven functionality of the RIMNET Phase 2 system, which continues to meet maintenance contract targets in excess of 99 per cent. reliability. This is through in depth design features which provide the necessary levels of resilience, including backup facilities at a remote location. Remote in this sense, means far removed from the main facility, yet accessible to authorised users via modern electronic communications. Assessment of the effectiveness of the RIMNET 3 system will be undertaken during its development and the acceptance trials. RIMNET 3 is currently scheduled to come into full operation and take over from RIMNET 2 in early 2004.
	Summaries of radiation monitoring data held on the RIMNET system are regularly sent to the House Library and are also published in departmental environmental statistical summaries.

Radioactive Material

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the present discharge unit is for technetium-99; what the analysis of levels of discharge over the last 12 months shows; and what progress has been made in considering the Department's response to recommendations by the Environment Agency in respect of discharge limits.

Margaret Beckett: The present discharge limit for technetium-99 is 90 TBq/year. In the 12 month period to the end of November 2002, the most up-to-date information currently available, 84.3 TBq of technetium-99 were discharged.
	On 11 December 2002 my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health and I (the two Ministers with joint responsibility under the Radioactive Substances Act 1993) announced that we saw no reason to direct the Environment Agency to take a different course to the one that the agency had identified in its proposed decision on technetium-99, published in September 2001. At the same time, I sought views on a proposal where I might direct the agency to consider the possibility of a moratorium on technetium-99 discharges pending introduction of TPP-based abatement technology. We are considering the representations received and hope to make a decision on the proposed direction shortly.

Radioactive Material

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she expects the Government to publish national waste acceptance criteria.

Michael Meacher: The Government will consult on the European Commission's obligatory waste acceptance criteria later this year as part of a wider consultation on amendments to the Landfill Regulations (England and Wales). (The waste acceptance criteria were introduced into the Landfill Directive by Decision C 20 E/171 of 28 January 2003 and must be transposed into UK legislation by 16 July 2004.) The amendments to the Landfill Regulations (England and Wales) introducing the waste acceptance criteria will be made following that consultation and before 16 July 2004.

Recycling

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the impact of recent changes to the Landfill Tax Credit Scheme on future waste awareness minimisation activities in England and Wales; and how this will impact on the UK's ability to meet the Landfill Directive targets.

Michael Meacher: holding answer 12 February 2003
	Changes to the Landfill Tax Credit Scheme (LTCS), which will introduce a new public expenditure scheme to replace some elements of the current scheme, will allow the Government to target funding better as a means of achieving specific sustainable waste management objectives. Initially, the aim will be to deliver the short to medium term measures set out in the Strategy Unit's report "Waste Not Want Not", to increase waste minimisation; boost recycling; develop new technologies; and improve information and awareness, data and the research base. Increasing performance in these areas, through changes to the LTCS, should improve the UK's capacity to meet its Landfill Directive targets.

Recycling

Angela Browning: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the financial value of annual exports of materials for recycling, with particular reference to (a) green glass, (b) plastic, (c) steel and (d) short fibre from paper mills, was in each of the last three years; and what volume was exported in each case, broken down by destination of export.

Michael Meacher: holding answer 6 February 2003
	The Department does not record information on the financial value of exported recyclable materials.
	H M Customs and Excise are responsible for export statistics. However the comcodes (this is the level at which traders declarations are made) which cover the materials requested, are not specific enough to uniquely identify them.

Recycling

Adrian Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the recycling records of local authorities in Somerset.

Michael Meacher: We have set all local authorities statutory performance standards (or targets) for recycling for 2003–04 and 2005–06. The latest performance information for authorities in Somerset is given as follows:
	
		Percentage
		
			  Recycling and composting rate Statutory Performance Standard 
			 Authority 1998–99 1999–2000 2001–02 2003–04 2005–06 
		
		
			 Bath and North East Somerset Council 17 21 23 33 36 
			 Mendip District Council 8 7 7 16 24 
			 North Somerset Council 7 10 13 14 21 
			 Sedgemoor District Council 6 6 6 12 18 
			 Somerset County Council 14 13 16 28 36 
			 South Somerset District Council 11 10 10 22 33 
			 Taunton Deane Borough Council 12 10 13 24 36 
			 West Somerset District Council 8 9 11 16 24 
		
	
	Government have provided extra funding to help authorities meet these standards through successive increases in the EPCS spending block, which includes waste services, and through the National Waste Minimisation and Recycling Challenge Fund under which the following Somerset authorities made successful bids.
	
		
			 Authority Category 
		
		
			 Round 1  
			 Somerset Waste Partnership Partnership working between authorities 
			 Bath and North East Somerset Council Two bids under high performance, innovation and best practice 
			 North Somerset Council Help turn around low performance 
			   
			 Round 2  
			 North Somerset Council Help turn around low performance 
			 Sedgemoor District Council Developing community initiatives 
			 South Somerset District Council Partnership working between authorities 
			 Bath and North East Somerset Council High performance, innovation and best practice 
		
	
	It is too soon to tell whether individual authorities in Somerset or elsewhere, will meet the standards. In September 2002 I wrote to the leaders of 141 councils asking them to let me know how they intend to meet their 2003–04 Statutory Performance Standard for recycling and composting of household waste of which the following four were in Somerset:
	Mendip District Council
	Sedgemoor District Council
	South Somerset District Council
	Taunton Deane Borough Council.

Recycling

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the recycling records of local authorities in (a) West Sussex and (b) London.

Michael Meacher: We have set all local authorities statutory performance standards (or targets) for recycling for 2003–04 and 2005–06. The latest performance information for authorities in London and West Sussex is given as follows:
	
		Percentage
		
			  Recycling and composting rate Statutory Performance Standards 
			 Authority 1998–99 1999–2000 2001–02 2003–04 2005–06 
		
		
			 London  
			 Barking and Dagenham LB 3 3 4 10 18 
			 Barnet LB 9 8 8 18 27 
			 Bexley LB 18 18 19 33 36 
			 Brent LB 5 6 7 10 18 
			 Bromley LB 7 13 13 14 21 
			 Camden LB 11 13 16 22 33 
			 Croydon LB 14 13 12 28 36 
			 Ealing LB 10 12 12 20 30 
			 East London Waste Authority 4 5 8 10 18 
			 Enfield LB 9 9 9 18 27 
			 Greenwich LB 4 4 6 10 18 
			 Hackney LB 2 2 1 10 18 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham LB 8 7 8 16 24 
			 Haringey LB 5 5 6 10 18 
			 Harrow LB 8 10 11 16 24 
			 Havering LB g 8 4 18 27 
			 Hillingdon LB 7 11 13 14 21 
			 Hounslow LB 14 14 13 28 36 
			 Islington LB 3 2 5 10 18 
			 Kingston-upon-Thames LB 15 18 20 30 36 
			 Lambeth LB 7 8 9 14 21 
			 Lewisham LB 4 4 5 10 18 
			 London Borough of Kensington and Chelsea 11 13 13 22 33 
			 London Corporation 0 0 0 10 18 
			 Merton LB 9 11 18 18 27 
			 Newham LB 2 3 2 10 18 
			 North London Waste Authority 6 7 8 12 18 
			 Redbridge LB 7 8 9 14 21 
			 Richmond upon Thames LB 14 n/a 16 28 36 
			 Southwark LB 3 3 3 10 18 
			 Sutton LB 16 27 25 33 36 
			 Tower Hamlets LB 3 2 3 10 18 
			 Waltham Forest LB 6 9 8 12 18 
			 Wandsworth LB 8 7 7 16 24 
			 West London Waste Authority 9 9 12 18 27 
			 Western Riverside Waste Authority 8 11 9 16 24 
			 Westminster City Council 6 7 7 12 18 
			 West Sussex  
			 Adur District Council 17 22 17 33 36 
			 Arun District Council 14 14 14 28 36 
			 Chichester District Council 12 14 12 24 36 
			 Crawley Borough Council 10 11 10 20 30 
			 Horsham District Council 13 13 13 26 36 
			 Mid Sussex District Council 18 20 18 33 36 
			 West Sussex County Council 12 16 17 24 36 
			 Worthing Borough Council 12 12 12 24 36 
		
	
	Government have provided extra funding to help authorities meet these standards through successive increases in the EPCS spending block, which includes waste services, and through the National Waste Minimisation and Recycling Challenge Fund under which West Sussex made a successful bid for a project to raise the awareness of waste issues. A separate Capital Fund of £21.3 million was established for authorities across London.
	West Sussex has also been successful in receiving approval for PFI funding for a recycling led waste project that aims to enable them to reach their target for 2005–06 of 36 per cent. and achieve long term recycling and composting levels comparable with the highest in Europe.
	It is too soon to tell whether individual authorities in London and West Sussex or elsewhere, will meet the standards. In September 2002 I wrote to the leaders of 141 councils asking them to let me know how they intend to meet their 2003–04 Statutory Performance Standard for recycling and composting of household waste of which the following were in London and West Sussex:
	London
	London Borough of Barking and Dagenham
	London Borough of Barnet
	London Borough of Bexley
	London Borough of Croydon
	London Borough of Ealing
	London Borough of Enfield
	London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham
	London Borough of Haringey
	London Borough of Newham
	London Borough of Redbridge
	London Borough of Richmond upon Thames
	London Borough of Southwark
	London Borough of Tower Hamlets
	Western Riverside Waste Authority
	West Sussex
	Adur District Council
	Arun District Council
	Horsham District Council
	Mid Sussex District Council
	Worthing Borough Council

Telephone Helplines

Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many telephone helplines are sponsored by her Department; and which of these helplines are charged at (a) national rate, (b) premium rate and (c) local rate.

Alun Michael: Defra operates 13 helpline telephone numbers, of which two are free of charge, five are charged at local rate and the remainder are charged at national rate. Of these one is a central Defra helpline, seven are operated by Rural Payments Agency, one each by the British Cattle Movement Service, Pets Helpline, Animal Movements, Agricultural Wages Board and Environmental Impact Assessment.
	A number of Defra telephone phone lines are published via the Department's website and in printed publications as contact points for enquiries on specific subjects. These services are not established or operated under the same criteria as the helplines referred to above.
	Similar details for other agencies and non-departmental bodies sponsored by the Department could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Timber

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to her answer of 27 January 2003, Official Report, column 564W, on timber, if she will list (a) the local authorities who were putting or considering putting policies on timber procurement in place, (b) the respondents that did not specifically stipulate that timber should be sourced from both legal and sustainably managed sources and (c) the local authorities using other strategies.

Michael Meacher: The following local authorities in England indicated in October 2002 that they were putting or considering putting policies on timber procurement in place: Basingstoke and Deane, Blackpool, Bolton, Broadland, Bury, Calderdale, Chelmsford, Cotswold, Derbyshire, Eastleigh, Epping Forest, Fareham, Harlow,Harrow, Hart, Kensington and Chelsea, Lewes, Liverpool, Malvern Hills, Newcastle under Lyme, North Shropshire, North Somerset, North Yorkshire, Purbeck, Reading, Redcar and Cleveland, Rochdale, Shepway, St. Albans, St. Edmundsbury, Tonbridge and Malling, West Lindsey, Wolverhampton.
	It was not clear from the following authorities' replies whether their policies did in fact specifically stipulate that timber should be from both legal sources and sustainable sources: Braintree, Copeland, East Cambridgeshire, East Sussex, Gateshead, Gloucester City, Gosport, Hampshire, Kent, Lincolnshire, Manchester, New Forest, North Devon, Richmondshire, South Oxfordshire, Staffordshire CC, Stockport, Swindon, Tandridge, Tendring, Tunbridge Wells, Westminster and Wyre Forest.
	The six authorities that reported using other strategies were: Buckinghamshire, Huntingdonshire, Melton, Norfolk, Northumberland and South Ribble.

Waste Disposal

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what percentage of municipal waste recovered in (a) 2005, (b) 2010 and (c) 2015 she expects to be (i) recycled, (ii) composted and (iii) incinerated.

Michael Meacher: The Government have set the following targets for recycling and composting of municipal waste as set out in Waste Strategy 2000:
	To recycle or compost at least 25 per cent. of household waste by 2005;
	To recycle or compost at least 30 per cent. of household waste by 2010;
	To recycle or compost at least 33 per cent. of household waste by 2015.
	We have not set targets for waste incineration. We have, however set the following waste recovery targets:
	To recover value from 40 per cent. of household waste by 2005;
	To recover value from 45 per cent. of household waste by 2010;
	To recover value from 67 per cent. of household waste by 2015.

Wildlife Trade

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans the Government have to ban the trade in birds and animals taken from the wild except for scientific and conservation reasons.

Elliot Morley: We have no current plans to ban the trade in all birds and animals taken from the wild. International trade in birds and animals is subject to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), which is implemented within the EU under Council Regulation (EC) No 338/97 and Commission Regulation (EC) No 1808/1. All commercial trade in those species listed as endangered is prohibited, while the trade in the other less vulnerable species is strictly regulated to ensure that it will not be detrimental to their wild populations.
	Last month we began a public consultation exercise outlining proposals to strengthen the existing domestic controls over wildlife trade. This included increasing the penalties for certain offences to up to five years imprisonment, and strengthening the relevant powers of police officers and wildlife inspectors. Subject to the outcome of the consultation, we intend to introduce revised provisions as soon as possible thereafter.
	Within Great Britain the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 prohibits the possession or control of any live or dead wild bird or animal listed on Schedule 5 of the Act, or any part of or anything derived from such a bird or animal. A licence can be issued derogating from this protection. The penalty for taking an animal or bird illegally is a maximum of £5,000 and/or six months custodial sentence.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Anti-social Behaviour

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) Anti-Social Behaviour Orders, (b) Parenting Orders and (c) Curfew Orders have been issued in the City of Portsmouth, South in the last three years; and if he will make a statement.

John Denham: The table shows the number of notifications received by the Home Office of Anti-Social Behaviour Orders (ASBOs) issued within the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Magistrates' Courts Committee (MCCs) area (in which the City of Portsmouth is situated) and by local government authority up to 30 September 2002 (latest available).
	We are aware that the numbers of ASBOs made nationally have been consistently under-reported in returns made by magistrates' courts, and are considering how reporting can be improved.
	Youth Justice Board figures indicate that between January 2001 and September 2002, a total of 262 Parenting Orders were imposed in the Youth Offending Team (YOT) area of Wessex, which includes the City of Portsmouth.
	Figures from the electronic monitoring contractors indicate that 104 Curfew Orders with electronic monitoring were imposed within Portsmouth, South during the period 2000–02. Of this total of 104 Curfew Orders, 12 were imposed on juveniles aged 10 to 15 years.
	No applications have yet been received to establish a local child curfew scheme under section 14 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998. Some local authorities and police forces have considered the possibility, but concluded that other measures should be taken to tackle relevant local problems.
	
		Table A: the number of ASBOs as notified to the Home Office, by Magistrates' Courts Committee and local authority area within England and Wales, April 1999 to September 2002
		
			 Magistrates' Courts Committee/local authority area Total issued 
		
		
			 Hampshire and Isle of Wight Magistrates' Courts Committeeof which 12 
			 from 1 April 1999 to 31 May 2000 by police force area 1 
			 from 1 June 2000 to 30 September 2002 by local authority area 11 
			 Portsmouth CC 3 
			 Southampton council 8 
		
	
	Note:
	Between 1 April 1999 to 31 May 2000, data available by police force area (pfa) only.
	
		Table B: the number of Curfew Orders imposed in Portsmouth, South on juveniles and adults for the years 2000 to 2002
		
			  Number of orders 
		
		
			 Juvenile Curfew Orders (aged 10 to 15)  
			 2000 0 
			 2001 4 
			 2002 8 
			 Total 12 
			  
			 Adult Curfew Orders (aged 16+)  
			 2000 26 
			 2001 21 
			 2002 45 
			 Total 92

Anti-social Behaviour

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many anti-social behaviour orders have been made in respect of individuals in (a) Hertsmere, (b) Hertfordshire and (c) the United Kingdom in each year since the orders came into being.

John Denham: Anti-Social Behaviour Orders (ASBOs) were introduced from 1 April 1999. From this date up to 30 September 2002 (latest available) the total number of ASBOs issued within England and Wales, as reported to the Home Office, is 706. The table shows the number of notifications of ASBOs issued within the Hertfordshire Magistrates' Courts Committee (MCC) area, which includes Hertsmere, by local government authority up to 30 September 2002.
	We are aware that the numbers of ASBOs made nationally have been consistently under reported in returns made by magistrates' courts and are considering how reporting can be improved.
	Information for matters related to Scotland and Northern Ireland are for the Scottish Executive and the Northern Ireland Assembly respectively.

Burglaries (West Yorkshire)

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many burglaries were (a) reported and (b) solved in West Yorkshire in (i) 1997 and (ii) 2002.

John Denham: Numbers of burglary offences recorded and associated detection rates in West Yorkshire are given in the table.
	
		
			 Year Offences recorded Detection rate—percentage 
		
		
			 1997(15) 67,686 28 
			 2001–02(16) 68,818 12 
		
	
	(15) Recorded on a calendar year basis
	(16) Recorded on a financial year basis
	There was a change in counting rules for recorded crime on 1 April 1998, which would have the tendency to increase the number of offences counted. Numbers of offences before and after this date are therefore not directly comparable.
	There was also a change in counting rules for detections on 1 April 1999. The new instructions provide more precise and rigorous criteria for recording a detection, with the underlying emphasis on the successful result of a police investigation. Numbers of detections before and after this date are therefore not directly comparable.

Cannabis

Peter Bradley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to receive advice on the medicinal benefits and side-effects of cannabis; and when he will make a decision as to whether, and when, how and to whom, it will be legally available for therapeutic purposes.

Bob Ainsworth: GW Pharmaceuticals have completed their advanced clinical trials into the development of a medical preparation of a cannabis-based drug and are preparing to submit a dossier of their findings to the Medicines Control Agency (MCA), an agency of the Department of Health, for evaluation in the near future.
	This assessment by the MCA is one which all prospective new medicines have to go through and is designed to protect public health.
	If approval of the safety, quality and effectiveness of the product is forthcoming, the Government will seek Parliament's agreement to make the necessary changes to the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001 to enable the prescription of cannabis-based medicine by doctors to their patients at the earliest opportunity. We recognize how eagerly awaited these changes are and intend to press ahead with them as quickly as possible.

Child Pornography

Margaret Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures he will take to require credit card companies to remove credit cards from those breaking their contract with such companies by viewing child pornography on the net.

Hilary Benn: Normally it will not be apparent from the information received by a card issuer that a transaction relates to illegal business. However, within the confines of banking law, where a card issuer is alerted to the fact that an offence has been committed by a cardholder, they will take appropriate action under the terms and conditions applying to the use of its card.
	The Government do not at this time consider that removing all credit card, debit card, and other non card based forms of payment facilities from an individual convicted of such an offence is the most cost effective or practical way of combating illegal or child abuse images on line.

Child Pornography

Margaret Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures he will take to require internet service providers to monitor their services to prevent viewing of child pornography on the net.

Hilary Benn: Under European e-commerce legislation, Internet Service Providers (ISPs) may not be held liable for unlawful material that they unknowingly transmit, store or host on behalf of their customers. There is also a requirement not to place general monitoring obligations on intermediary service providers, and as such there will be no legislative requirement for United Kingdom ISP's to undertake monitoring of their services for child pornography.
	However, if an ISP is warned of illegal material on a website that they host but fails to take the appropriate action by removing or disabling access to the material in question, they will be liable for prosecution.
	With regards to sites which host child pornography, the Government supports the work of the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF), an industry funded body which allows anyone to report the presence of images of child abuse anywhere in the world. The Foundation determines whether the reported website carries potentially illegal material and takes steps to have access denied to the site. The Foundation passes details of illegal material to the relevant law enforcement agencies to initiate action against the originators. If the originators are abroad, the Foundation passes the report to sister hotlines abroad and to the National Criminal Intelligence Services (NCIS) who liaise with enforcement agencies of the countries concerned.
	The Government continues to seek to revise and improve the mechanisms and processes for the reporting and removing of illegal material hosted on the web, for example through the work of the Home Secretary's Task Force on Child Protection on the Internet.
	The taskforce, established in March 2001, involves a partnership of child welfare organisations, the internet industry, government, the police and others working towards finding solutions to make the internet a safer place for children, and in January 2003 launched good practice models and guidance for the internet industry on a range of services including web based services dealing with adult content.

Child Pornography

Margaret Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures he is taking to require internet service providers to end the use of privacy buttons on e-groups to enable better identification and prosecution of those using child pornography material on the Net.

Hilary Benn: E-Groups enable a great many people to communicate with others with similar interests conveniently and if necessary privately. It is true that this facility, like any other, can be misused, but to require that all e-groups be open would merely displace, not end, the exchange of indecent images of children, and lessen the scope for perfectly legitimate use.
	The Government continues to seek to revise and improve the mechanisms and processes for the reporting and removing of illegal material hosted on the web, in particular through the work of the Home Secretary's Task Force on Child Protection on the Internet, which includes the police, the industry, child protection agencies, MPs and others.

Closed Circuit Television

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his answer of 9 January 2003, Official Report, column 310W, on Crime Reduction Partnerships, if he will list the location of the public area CCTV schemes funded through the Crime Reduction Programme Closed Circuit Television, and the grant made to each scheme.

John Denham: Under the Crime Reduction Programme CCTV Initiative around £170 million will be spent between 1998 and 2003 funding 684 CCTV schemes. More than 550 of these schemes are already fully operational, with further schemes coming on line weekly.
	Lists of the schemes funded, including location and grants made to each scheme can be found on the Crime Reduction website at: www.crimereduction.gov.uk/cctvminisite1.htm.

Closed Circuit Television

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his answer of 9 January 2003, Official Report, column 310W, on crime reduction partnerships, how much money has been awarded to (a) each region and (b) each local authority area under the Crime Reduction Programme Closed Circuit Television Initiative.

John Denham: Under the Crime Reduction Programme CCTV Initiative, around £170 million will be spent between 1998 and 2003 funding 684 CCTV schemes. More than 550 of these schemes are already fully operational, with further schemes coming on line weekly. The regional breakdown of funding is as follows:
	
		
			  
		
		
			  
			 East Midlands 17,169,228 
			 London 35,410,898 
			 North East 12,900,238 
			 South East 15,328,266 
			 South West 11,784,260 
			 Wales 7,925,968 
			 West Midlands 14,536,391 
			 Yorkshire and Humberside 20,357,137 
			 East 10,909,827 
			 North West 22,804,606 
		
	
	Lists of the schemes funded, including location and grants made to each scheme and local authority, can be found on the Crime Reduction website at: www.crimereduction.gov.uk/cctvminisite1.htm

Community Support Officers

Adrian Bailey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the impact of community support officers on the level of crime in the pilot areas.

John Denham: Twenty seven police forces in England and Wales made successful bids last year for a share of the £19 million fund for the introduction of Community Support Officers (CSOs). Training programmes in each force will see more than 1,000 CSOs patrolling the streets by the end of March this year.
	The money given to each police force includes an element for evaluation and forces are due to give us initial findings by the end of September. At this stage, it is premature for any meaningful analysis of their effect although there are already early indications of decreased crime in the areas where CSOs have been deployed.

Coniston Hotel

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what permission was granted by NASS to Accommodata to move into the Coniston Hotel on 5 February to begin preparations to receive asylum seekers;
	(2)  whether Accommodata has been given permission by NASS to refurbish the Coniston Hotel.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 10 February 2003
	The contract entered into between The National Asylum Support Service (NASS) and Accommodata is for 111 bedspaces at the hotel. Other accommodation at the hotel, including bedrooms which are not part of the NASS contract, will be available for use by the general public. The owner of the hotel does not need permission from NASS to refurbish his premises. Neither does Accommodata require permission from NASS to undertake work at the hotel.

Conviction Rates

Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the conviction rates were for each police force in (a) 1999, (b) 2000 and (c) 2001.

John Denham: The information requested is contained in the table and relates to the number of defendants found guilty of all offences at all courts expressed as a proportion of defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts for all offences in each of the years, by police force area.
	
		Conviction rates(17) for all offences, by police force area -- England and WalesPercentages
		
			 Police force area 1999 2000 2001 
		
		
			 Avon and Somerset 71 73 72 
			 Bedfordshire 73 74 69 
			 Cambridgeshire 78 80 79 
			 Cheshire 79 80 81 
			 Cleveland 72 75 76 
			 Cumbria 80 81 79 
			 Derbyshire 77 78 79 
			 Devon and Cornwall 75 76 77 
			 Dorset 77 75 74 
			 Durham 73 74 77 
			 Essex 81 78 78 
			 Gloucestershire 73 74 72 
			 Greater Manchester 76 77 72 
			 Hampshire 77 78 77 
			 Hertfordshire 76 74 74 
			 Humberside . 80 79 79 
			 Kent 78 77 77 
			 Lancashire 72 71 71 
			 Leicestershire 76 76 74 
			 Lincolnshire 79 79 79 
			 London, City of 70 80 84 
			 Merseyside 76 73 73 
			 Metropolitan Police 77 76 74 
			 Norfolk 91 83 75 
			 Northamptonshire 71 72 72 
			 Northumbria 74 76 76 
			 North Yorkshire 75 76 73 
			 Nottinghamshire 73 75 74 
			 South Yorkshire 77 78 77 
			 Staffordshire 78 74 71 
			 Suffolk 77 74 69 
			 Surrey 79 75 75 
			 Sussex 73 73 72 
			 Thames Valley 71 71 72 
			 Warwickshire 80 81 80 
			 West Mercia 75 76 75 
			 West Midlands 66 66 67 
			 West Yorkshire 70 68 64 
			 Wiltshire 78 75 75 
			 
			 Dyfed Powys 73 73 73 
			 Gwent 80 78 77 
			 North Wales 78 79 77 
			 South Wales 72 72 71 
			 England and Wales 74.8 74.7 73.4 
		
	
	(17) Defendants found guilty of all offences at all courts as a percentage of persons proceeded against for all offences at magistrates' courts, as notified to the Home Office

Correspondence

Neil Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the hon. Member for Walthamstow will receive a reply to his letters to the Department of 14 February 2002, 21 May 2002, 29 August 2002 and 22 October 2002, regarding his constituents, Mr. and Mrs. Thankarajah (Home Office ref T1009737).

Beverley Hughes: I wrote to my hon. Friend on 14 February 2003.

Correspondence

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will reply to the letters dated 20 November 2002 and 4 January from the honourable Member for Altrincham and Sale West regarding the case of Mr. Christopher Rowley.

Hilary Benn: I replied to the hon. Member on 6 February 2003.

County Durham Police

John Cummings: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of the budget of the County Durham Police was spent on pension funds in (a) 2000, (b) 2001 and (c) 2002 and is projected to be spent in 2003.

John Denham: The Chief Constable informs me that the proportion of budget spent on police pensions and contributions towards civilian pensions is as follows:
	(a) 14 per cent. in financial year 1999–2000; (b) 14 per cent. in 2000–01; (c) 15 per cent. in 2001–02; and 16 per cent. is estimated to be spent in 2002–03.

Credit Card Fraud

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent reports he has received about the trend in respect of credit card fraud; what he estimates its most recent annual level in the UK was; which new forms of such fraud are giving the authorities most cause for concern; what proposals and advice he is planning to help tackle the problem; and if he will make a statement.

John Denham: The Government recognises that plastic card fraud in the UK has increased considerably over recent years. In the Home Office publication, "Crime in England and Wales, 2001–02: Supplementary Volume" published on 9 January 2003, it was shown that the police recorded 153,281 cheque and credit card offences in 2001–02. The Association for Payment Clearing Services (APACS) estimated the losses from cheque, debit and credit or charge card fraud in the 12 months to August 2002 at £429.4 million.
	Skimming (electronically copying a card's magnetic stripe and using it to make an illegal copy of a genuine card) is a relatively new form of card fraud, which is giving the financial services sector and police cause for concern. Counterfeit card losses comprise over a third of total plastic card fraud losses.
	The Government has committed £1.4 million over two years, in partnership with APACS, to piloting the Dedicated Cheque and Plastic Crime Unit (DCPCU). The Unit, which started work in April 2002, has enjoyed significant early success, recovering more than 3,000 cards and 468 cheques. This has led to 44 arrests and four convictions with potential savings of £5.3 million. A detailed evaluation of the DCPCU's performance will be used to inform decisions on the future of the Unit and to guide national policy for tackling organised and plastic card fraud.
	The Home Office is also actively supporting the finance and retail industry in its implementation of the Chip and PIN programme. New technology will require UK credit and debit card transactions to be authorised by the customer keying in a four-digit PIN (personal identification number) rather than by signing a receipt. The banking industry expects that by 2005 the new technology will have eliminated over half of the predicted level of plastic card fraud. A public trial of the programme will take place in Northampton shortly and national roll-out will begin after the trial is complete.
	The Government, working closely with stakeholders, launched its Safe Internet Shopping Campaign in 2001 to advise consumers on safe payment and give them directions to the Government's Consumer Gateway www.consumer.gov.uk which provides links to sources of detailed information.
	The Government welcomes the involvement of the banking industry in actively seeking ways to prevent and detect crime such as plastic card fraud.

Crime (Humberside)

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many and what proportion of prisoners in (a) Haltemprice and Howden, (b) the East Riding of Yorkshire and (c) England and Wales tested positive for drugs in each of the past five years.

Hilary Benn: The following tables detail the number and proportion of prisoners in the constituency of Haltemprice and Howden, the County of the East Riding of Yorkshire and in England and Wales who tested positive for drugs under the Prison Service random mandatory drug testing programme in each of the past five years.
	
		
			   1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 
			 Geographical Area Prisons No. Positive Percentage Positive No. Positive Percentage Positive No. Positive Percentage Positive No. Positive Percentage Positive No. Positive Percentage Positive 
		
		
			 Haltemprice and Howden Constituency Everthorpe Wolds 108 
			 86 27.1 
			 18.0 168 
			 88 29.8 
			 17.8 61 
			 58 22.3 
			 11.9 71 
			 39 25.1 
			 7.9 61 
			 16 13.9 
			 3.3 
			 County of the East Riding of Yorkshire Full SuttoriEverthorpe Wolds 38 
			 108 6.4 
			 27.1 45 
			 168 6.8 
			 29.8 39 
			 61 5.8 
			 22.3 29 
			 71 4.2 
			 25.1 43 
			 61 6.0 
			 13.9 
			   86 18.0 88 17.8 58 11.9 39 7.9 16 3.3 
			 England and Wales All 13,038 20.8 11,552 18.3 7,804 14.2 6,382 12.4 6,060 11.6

Crime (Humberside)

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many crimes were committed by juvenile offenders in (a) Haltemprice and Howden, (b) the East Riding of Yorkshire and (c) the Humberside Police Authority area in each quarter since 1997; and how many cautions were issued;
	(2)  how many children in the East Riding of Yorkshire (a) were convicted, (b) were in local authority care, (c) received a reprimand, (d) received a final warning and (e) were found guilty, in each year since 1997.

Hilary Benn: The information contained in the table gives the number of children convicted of all offences, those given cautions, reprimands and final warnings and those in care in Humberside, 1997 to 2001.
	The information collected centrally does not enable cases in the Haltemprice and Howden constituency to be identified nor cautions in the East Riding of Yorkshire. Neither is it possible to give the number of crimes committed by juveniles, only the number of juveniles who are found guilty of all offences.
	Figures on children looked after by local councils were supplied by the Department of Health.
	Statistics for 2002 will be published in the autumn.
	
		Number of children found guilty at all courts for all offences, number given cautions, reprimands and final warnings and the number in care, Humberside 1997 to 2001
		
			  1997 1998 
			  Qtr 1 Qtr 2 Qtr 3 Qtr 4 Total Qtr 1 Qtr 2 Qtr 3 Qtr 4 Total 
		
		
			 East Riding of Yorkshire
			 Children aged 10–17 found guilty 87 102 83 90 362 105 101 99 97 402 
			 Children aged 0–17 looked after at 31 March(18) 175 (19)— (19)— (19)— (19)— 215 (19)— (19)— (19)— (19)— 
			 Children aged 10–17 receiving a reprimand (19)— (19)— (19)— (19)— (19)— (19)— (19)— (19)— (19)— (19)— 
			 Children aged 10–17 receiving a final warning (19)— (19)— (19)— (19)— (19)— (19)— (19)— (19)— (19)— (19)— 
			 Children aged 10–17 receiving a caution(20) (19)— (19)— (19)— (19)— (19)— (19)— (19)— (19)— (19)— (19)— 
			
			 Humberside Police Force Area
			 Children aged 10–17 found guilty 372 374 361 426 1,533 430 417 391 396 1,634 
			 Children aged 0–17 looked after at 31 March(18) 1,365 (19)— (19)— (19)— (19)— 1,460 (19)— (19)— (19)— (19)— 
			 Children aged 10–17 receiving a reprimand (21)— (21)— (21)— (21)— (21)— (21)— (21)— (21)— (21)— (21)— 
			 Children aged 10–17 receiving a final warning (21)— (21)— (21)— (21)— (21)— (21)— (21)— (21)— (21)— (21)— 
			 Children aged 10–17 receiving a caution(20) 536 447 500 468 1,951 574 568 609 626 2,377 
		
	
	
		
			1999   2000 
			  Qtr 1 Qtr 2 Qtr 3 Qtr 4 Total Qtr 1 Qtr 2 Qtr 3 Qtr 4 Total 
		
		
			 East Riding of Yorkshire
			 Children aged 10–17 found guilty 107 100 128 138 473 104 107 93 101 405 
			 Children aged 0–17 looked after at 31 March(18) 220 (19)— (19)— (19)— (19)— 240 (19)— (19)— (19)— (19)— 
			 Children aged 10–17 receiving a reprimand (19)— (19)— (19)— (19)— (19)— (19)— (19)— (19)— (19)— (19)— 
			 Children aged 10–17 receiving a final warning (19)— (19)— (19)— (19)— (19)— (19)— (19)— (19)— (19)— (19)— 
			 Children aged 10–17 receiving a caution(20) (19)— (19)— (19)— (19)— (19)— (19)— (19)— (19)— (19)— (19)— 
			
			 Humberside Police Force Area
			 Children aged 10–17 found guilty 407 449 507 494 1,857 468 384 428 470 1,750 
			 Children aged 0–17 looked after at 31 March(18) 1,385 (19)— (19)— (19)— (19)— 1,350 (19)— (19)— (19)— (19)— 
			 Children aged 10–17 receiving a reprimand (21)— (21)— (21)— (21)— (21)— (21)— 75 320 291 686 
			 Children aged 10–17 receiving a final warning (21)— (21)— (21)— (21)— (21)— (21)— 24 136 155 315 
			 Children aged 10–17 receiving a caution(20) 486 507 395 521 1,909 330 519 (21)— (21)— 849 
		
	
	
		
			2001 
			  Qtr 1 Qtr 2 Qtr 3 Qtr 4 Total 
		
		
			 East Riding of Yorkshire   
			 Children aged 10–17 found guilty 143 84 112 93 432 
			 Children aged 0–17 looked after at 31 March(18) 205 (19)— (19)— (19)— (19)— 
			 Children aged 10–17 receiving a reprimand (19)— (19)— (19)— (19)— (19)— 
			 Children aged 10–17 receiving a final warning (19)— (19)— (19)— (19)— (19)— 
			 Children aged 10–17 receiving a caution(20) (19)— (19)— (19)— (19)— (19)— 
			   
			 Humberside Police Force Area   
			 Children aged 10–17 found guilty 535 324 477 382 1,718 
			 Children aged 0–17 looked after at 31 March(18) 1,230 (19)— (19)— (19)— (19)— 
			 Children aged 10–17 receiving a reprimand 354 329 247 186 1,116 
			 Children aged 10–17 receiving a final warning 191 195 129 74 589 
			 Children aged 10–17 receiving a caution(20) (21)— (21)— (21)— (21)— (21)— 
		
	
	(18) Looked after by local councils—numbers exclude children looked after under a series of short term placements. (Information supplied by Department of Health—figures rounded to the nearest five).
	(19) Not applicable.
	(20) Cautions were replaced by reprimands and final warnings from June 2000.
	(21) Not available.

Prisons (Drugs)

Archie Norman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his answers of 28 January 2003, Official Report, columns 757–59W, what assessment he has made of (a) the adequacy of closed circuit television provision in visits areas of prisons and (b) their success in obstructing smuggling of drugs into prisons by visitors.

Hilary Benn: No specific research has been conducted by the Prison Service on the effectiveness of closed circuit television (CCTV). A CCTV good practice guide, drawing on the wider experience within the criminal justice system, has however been issued to prisons, against which individual establishments must review their procedures.

Prisons (Drugs)

Archie Norman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his answers of 28 January 2003, Official Report, columns 757–59W, what importance he attaches to each of the routes he has identified by which drugs enter prisons.

Hilary Benn: Drug smuggling is by nature a covert activity. It is extremely difficult to quantify the frequency with which different routes are used. Routes vary depending on the nature of the individuals or prisons concerned. The Prison Service, however, believes that one of the most frequent routes is through social visits.

Prisons (Drugs)

Archie Norman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his answers of 28 January 2003, Official Report, columns 757–59W, which measures to reduce the availability of drugs in prisons aim to disrupt attempts to smuggle drugs in by mail.

Hilary Benn: It would not be appropriate to disclose all the precise security measures in place to disrupt attempts to smuggle drugs. All social mail is opened and searched before being sent to the prisoner. X-ray machines and active drug dogs may be used in support of that process.

Prisons (Drugs)

Archie Norman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his answers of 28 January 003, Official Report, column 757–59W, by what means he will assess the effectiveness of measures to reduce the availability of drugs in prisons.

Hilary Benn: Random mandatory drug testing (MDT) provides the best available measure of the effectiveness of policies to reduce the availability of drugs in prisons. Since the introduction of MDT the figure has reduced from 24.4 per cent. in 1996–97 to 11.6 per cent. in 2001–02. A wide-ranging programme of research is also under way to assess the effectiveness of supply reduction measures.

Prisons (Drugs)

Archie Norman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his answers of 28 January 2003, Official Report, column 757–59W, how many attempts have been made to smuggle drugs into prisons by means of perimeter breach in the last year for which figures are available.

Hilary Benn: Any attempts to smuggle drugs into prisons are, by nature, covert activities which are extremely difficult to quantify. No such records are kept. Prisons take into account the geography of each site and adopt appropriate security measures to minimise the risk of smuggling via this route.

Prisons (Drugs)

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of prison inmates in Britain are using drugs on a regular basis.

Hilary Benn: holding answer 12 February 2003
	The random mandatory drug testing (MDT) programme represents the best available measure of overall drug misuse in prisons in England and Wales. The percentage figure for prisoners who tested positive in 2001–02 was 11.6 per cent.

Prison Statistics

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners over the age of 65 are (a) serving life sentences and (b) have special medical needs; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: The number of prisoners serving life sentences over the age of 65 on 30 November 2002 was 121.
	A study of 203 sentenced male prisoners aged 60 and over in 15 establishments in England and Wales (about one-fifth of that total population) conducted in 1999–2000 reported that 85 per cent. had one or more major illnesses reported in their medical records and 83 per cent. reported at least one chronic illness or disability when interviewed. The most common illnesses were psychiatric, cardiovascular, musculoskeletal and respiratory. All prisons and their local national health service partners have completed joint prison health needs assessments, leading to the implementation of improvements to healthcare provision based on individual prison health plans.

Prison Statistics

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list those prisons which cater for young offenders; and how many (a) young offenders and (b) other prisoners are held in each prison.

Hilary Benn: The information requested is shown in the table. The term young offenders has been taken to refer to any prisoner aged under 21 years of age held in an establishment, whether or not they have been convicted of an offence.
	
		All prison service establishments holding young offenders -- (i.e. those aged under 21 years of age)
		
			 Establishment Number of young offenders Number of adults Total population 
		
		
			 Altcourse 78 882 960 
			 Ashfield 228 0 228 
			 Askham Grange 5 118 123 
			 Aylesbury 346 0 346 
			 Belmarsh 54 832 886 
			 Birmingham 2 892 894 
			 Blakenhurst 8 862 870 
			 Brinsford 466 0 466 
			 Bristol 22 584 606 
			 Brixton 1 794 795 
			 Brockhill 51 106 157 
			 Bullingdon 3 856 859 
			 Bullwood Hall 130 32 162 
			 Cardiff 1 635 636 
			 Castington 308 0 308 
			 Chelmsford 174 368 542 
			 Cookham Wood 17 98 115 
			 Deerbolt 427 0 427 
			 Doncaster 303 778 1,081 
			 Dorchester 24 182 206 
			 Dover 26 168 194 
			 Drake Hall 36 199 235 
			 East Sutton Park 3 74 77 
			 Eastwood Park 56 223 279 
			 Elmley 57 906 963 
			 Exeter 55 424 479 
			 Feltham 634 0 634 
			 Forest Bank 246 723 969 
			 Glen Parva 713 0 713 
			 Gloucester 24 290 314 
			 Guys Marsh 125 409 534 
			 Haslar 2 120 122 
			 Highdown 96 627 723 
			 Highpoint 5 828 833 
			 Hindley 498 0 498 
			 Holloway 54 430 484 
			 Holme House 36 908 944 
			 Hull 143 824 967 
			 Huntercombe 341 0 341 
			 Lancaster Farms 456 0 456 
			 Leeds 1 1,198 1,199 
			 Lewes 20 459 479 
			 Lindholme 6 712 718 
			 Liverpool 2 1,386 1,388 
			 Low Newton 77 150 227 
			 Manchester 1 1,249 1,250 
			 Moorland 476 469 945 
			 New Hall 106 202 308 
			 Northallerton 137 0 137 
			 Norwich 165 519 684 
			 Onley 513 0 513 
			 Parc 453 510 963 
			 Portland 436 0 436 
			 Reading 250 0 250 
			 Rochester 157 0 157 
			 Shrewsbury 1 278 279 
			 Stoke Heath 614 0 614 
			 Styal 52 329 381 
			 Swinfen Hall 313 0 313 
			 Thorn Cross 177 0 177 
			 Wandsworth 2 1,426 1,428 
			 Warren Hill 209 182 391 
			 Werrington 118 0 118 
			 Wetherby 321 0 321 
			 Winchester 1 577 578 
			 Woodhill 101 649 750 
			 Total 10,963 25,467 36,430

Prison Statistics

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average weekly number of offenders was (a) entering the prison system and (b) released from the prison system in each year since 1995.

Hilary Benn: The information is given in the following table:
	
		The average weekly number of prisoners initially received and discharged
		
			 Year Receptions Discharges 
		
		
			 1995 2,420 1,600 
			 1996 2,320 1,500 
			 1997 2,410 1,500 
			 1998 2,540 1,700 
			 1999 2,600 1,800 
			 2000 2,500 1,800 
			 2001 2,720 1,700 
			 2002 2,820 1,700

Prison Statistics

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the (a) total prison population and (b) number of people convicted of a criminal offence were in (i) 1980, (ii) 1985, (iii) 1990, (iv) 1995 and (v) 2000.

Hilary Benn: The information is given in the table:
	
		
			  1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 
		
		
			 Population in custody(22) 43,109 46,278 45,636 50,962 64,602 
			 Number of people convicted for a criminal offence 2,182,635 1,878,287 1,493,936 1,343,227 1,413,449 
		
	
	(22) Average population in custody including fine defaulters.

Prison Statistics

Paul Stinchcombe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) fathers and (b) mothers are in prison who are aged (i) under 18, (ii) 18 to 21, (iii) 21 to 31, and (iv) 31 to 41.

Hilary Benn: There is no routinely collected data on the number and age of fathers and mothers in prison. However, a Home Office study of a large sample of imprisoned women and mothers, published in 1997, found that 60 per cent. of female prisoners, sentenced and unsentenced, had dependent children under the age of 18. Another smaller but more recent study of women prisoners and their work in custody, published in 2000, found broadly similar results (out of a sample of 567 sentenced women, 66 per cent. had dependent children under the age of 18).
	Directly equivalent information for male prisoners is not available. However, the 1991 England and Wales prison survey showed that 32 per cent. of male prisoners had dependent children who had been living with them just before they were imprisoned; the corresponding figure for female prisoners was 47 per cent.

Prison Statistics

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the (a) capacity and (b) occupancy is of each prison.

Hilary Benn: The information requested is shown in the following table. The table shows the population and operational capacity of all establishments in England and Wales. Operational capacity is the total number of prisoners that an establishment can hold taking into account control, security and the proper operation of the planned regime.
	
		Population and operational capacity at all Prison Service establishments in England and Wales, as at 31 January 2003
		
			 Establishment Operational capacity Population 
		
		
			  
			 Acklington 802 791 
			 Albany 446 435 
			 Altcourse 1,010 982 
			 Ashfield 400 214 
			 Ashwell 536 534 
			 Askham Grange 141 131 
			 Aylesbury 352 342 
			 Bedford 464 458 
			 Belmarsh 869 880 
			 Birmingham 930 938 
			 Blakenhurst 880 869 
			 Blantyre House 122 116 
			 Blundeston 464 450 
			 Brinsford 493 452 
			 Bristol 606 607 
			 Brixton 798 795 
			 Brockhill 167 146 
			 Blundeston 464 450 
			 Buckley Hall 320 299 
			 Bullingdon 963 893 
			 Bullwood Hall 184 165 
			 Camp Hill 545 538 
			 Canterbury 304 302 
			 Cardiff 671 658 
			 Castington 410 281 
			 Channings Wood 627 614 
			 Chelmsford 576 579 
			 Coldingley 390 385 
			 Cookham Wood 115 112 
			 Dartmoor 625 613 
			 Deerbolt 479 397 
			 Doncaster 1,120 1,112 
			 Dorchester 263 225 
			 Dovegate 860 736 
			 Dover 316 263 
			 Downview 228 214 
			 Drake Hall 315 245 
			 Durham 736 700 
			 East Sutton Park 100 88 
			 Eastwood Park 326 248 
			 Elmley 985 990 
			 Erlestoke 386 383 
			 Everthorpe 378 371 
			 Exeter 533 502 
			 Featherstone 615 610 
			 Feltham 713 641 
			 Ford 541 426 
			 Forest Bank 1,040 1,017 
			 Foston Hall 235 228 
			 Frankland 652 652 
			 Full Sutton 607 601 
			 Garth 667 648 
			 Gartree 276 281 
			 Glen Parva 808 742 
			 Gloucester 330 302 
			 Grendon 231 218 
			 Guys Marsh 570 553 
			 Haslar 160 142 
			 Haverigg 564 499 
			 Hewell Grange 178 174 
			 Highdown 734 713 
			 Highpoint North 231 201 
			 Highpoint South 670 649 
			 Hindley 557 497 
			 Hollesley Bay 329 199 
			 Holloway 483 453 
			 Holme House 995 946 
			 Hull 1,031 1,009 
			 Huntercombe 368 333 
			 Kingston 197 186 
			 Kirkham 561 398 
			 Kirklevington 183 179 
			 Lancaster 244 243 
			 Lancaster Farms 526 461 
			 Latchmere House 196 190 
			 Leeds 1,254 1,240 
			 Leicester 371 351 
			 Lewes 530 504 
			 Leyhill 512 360 
			 Lincoln 365 365 
			 Lindholme 761 740 
			 Littlehey 666 651 
			 Liverpool 1,504 1,392 
			 Long Lartin 441 426 
			 Low Newton 296 253 
			 Lowdham Grange 524 508 
			 Maidstone 548 535 
			 Manchester 1,281 1,253 
			 Moorland 1,039 944 
			 Morton Hall 356 292 
			 Mount 760 748 
			 New Hall 386 332 
			 North Sea Camp 307 264 
			 Northallerton 254 160 
			 Norwich 772 725 
			 Nottingham 550 549 
			 Onley 580 536 
			 Pare 1 ,028 986 
			 Parkhurst 527 502 
			 Pentonville 1,205 1,253 
			 Portland 456 426 
			 Prescoed 130 83 
			 Preston 664 652 
			 Ranby 778 716 
			 Reading 289 248 
			 Risley 1,053 974 
			 Rochester 180 172 
			 Rye Hill 664 646 
			 Send 220 208 
			 Shepton Mallet 189 191 
			 Shrewsbury 350 310 
			 Spring Hill 296 270 
			 Stafford 640 627 
			 Standford Hill 464 360 
			 Stocken 582 579 
			 Stoke Heath 688 603 
			 Styal 463 427 
			 Sudbury 519 488 
			 Swaleside 777 756 
			 Swansea 368 338 
			 Swinfen Hall 320 316 
			 Thorn Cross 316 176 
			 Usk 242 224 
			 Verne 587 572 
			 Wakefield 581 566 
			 Wandsworth 1,461 1,462 
			 Warren Hill 220 196 
			 Wayland 666 662 
			 Wealstun 712 564 
			 Weare 400 362 
			 Wellingborough 526 523 
			 Werrington 148 111 
			 Wetherby 360 331 
			 Whatton 320 318 
			 Whitemoor 472 402 
			 Winchester 637 606 
			 Wolds 350 316 
			 Woodhill 773 764 
			 Wormwood Scrubs 1,229 1,242 
			 Wymott 822 809 
			 Total 75,456 70,909

Prison Statistics

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisons in England and Wales have been equipped with stair lifts to help elderly infirm people.

Hilary Benn: Prison Service establishments install stair lifts as operational needs dictate. Such installations are funded locally. This information is not therefore held centrally and could be collected at disproportionate cost.

Prison Statistics

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many pregnant women are held in prisons in (a) England and (b) Wales.

Hilary Benn: Statistics on the number of pregnant women held in prisons in England and Wales are not collected routinely. However, a one-off survey was conducted on 13 November 2002 and has recently been collated. At that time, there were 75 pregnant women held within the female prison estate.

Firearms

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps the Government is taking to control the number of guns arriving in the UK from Eastern Europe and the Balkans.

Bob Ainsworth: The Government is aware of the risk of illegal weapons being imported from Eastern Europe and the Balkans. Law enforcement agencies are continuing to monitor the situation carefully and are already involved in efforts to reduce the flow of firearms to this country. Those firearms which are smuggled and intended for criminal use in the United Kingdom are often connected with smuggling of other commodities, including drugs and this is another angle that is currently being addressed.
	A conference on organised crime in the Balkans was held in London last November at which the matter of firearms trafficking was discussed. The Government is currently considering follow-up actions relating to tighter border controls, increasing police capacity, encouraging intelligence-led policing and improving international co-operation, which will help restrict smuggling.

Lancashire Constabulary

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the ethnic composition of the Lancashire Constabulary is.

John Denham: The following tables are for police officers and all police staff and have been produced from figures supplied by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC).
	
		Police officers
		
			 As at 31 March 2002 Number 
		
		
			 White 3,245 
			 Mixed 0 
			 Black/Black British 13 
			 Asian/Asian British 32 
			 Chinese or Other ethnic group 14 
			 Unspecified 0 
		
	
	
		All police staff
		
			 As at 31 March 2002 Number 
		
		
			 White 4,732 
			 Mixed 0 
			 Black/Black British 18 
			 Asian/Asian British 45 
			 Chinese or Other ethnic group 35 
			 Unspecified 0

Misuse of Drugs Advisory Council

Gary Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his answer of 5 December 2002, Official Report, column 973W, on the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs, what sub-committee meetings took place on (a) 1 November 2001 and (b) 15 January 2002; where each meeting took place; which members of the Council attended each meeting; which members of the Council attended the (i) meeting on 8 November 2001 and (ii) full meeting on 15 January 2002, and where they took place; which members of the Council were commissioned to produce the draft report on the classification of cannabis; and whether the Council took a vote on approving the draft report on the classification of cannabis.

Bob Ainsworth: Joint meetings of the technical sub-committee and the research sub-committee of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs took place on 1 November 2001 and 15 January 2002. The meetings were held respectively at the main Home Office building, Queen Anne's Gate and St. Ermin's Hotel, Caxton street, London.
	The members of the Council who attended the meetings are as listed.
	The meetings of the Council which took place on 8 November 2001 and 15 January 2002 were held respectively in the main Home Office building, Queen Anne's Gate and St. Ermin's Hotel, Caxton street, London. The members of the Council who
	attended the meetings are as listed.
	The report on the classification of cannabis was drafted by the chair of the Council, Professor Sir Michael Rawlins, with contributions from the chairs of the technical and research sub-committees, Professor David Nutt and Mrs. Kay Roberts. The report was approved by the full Council at its meeting on 15 January 2002. In accordance with normal Council procedures, no vote was taken.
	Members who attended the joint sub-committee meeting on 1 November 2001:
	Dr. Anthony Duxbury
	Mr. Paul Hayes
	Mr. Roger Howard
	Professor Ronald Jones
	Professor Otto Meth-Cohn
	Professor David Nutt
	Dr. Diana Patterson
	Mrs. Kay Roberts
	Dr. Sue Ruben
	Membership of the sub-committees is supplemented with co-opted members from various areas of expertise.
	Members who attended the Council meeting on 8 November 2001:
	Professor Sir Michael Rawlins, Chairman of the Council
	Mrs. Joy Barlow
	Mr. Norman Bettison
	Reverend Martin Blakeborough
	Mr. Alexander Cameron
	Dr. Michael Donmall
	Ms Vivienne Evans
	Dr. Laurence Gruer
	Ms Kim Hager
	Mr. Peter Hampson
	Mr. Paul Hayes
	Ms Lorraine Hewitt
	Mr. Peter Housden
	Mr. Roger Howard
	Professor Ronald Jones
	Professor Otto Meth-Cohn
	Mr. Michael Narayn Singh
	Professor David Nutt
	Dr. Diana Patterson
	Mrs. Kay Roberts
	Dr. Roy Robertson
	Dr. Sue Ruben
	Mr. lan Sherwood
	Professor John Strang
	Members who attended the joint sub-committee meeting on 15 January 2002:
	Dr. Michael Donmall
	Mr. Paul Hayes
	Ms Lorraine Hewitt
	Mr. Alan Hunter
	Professor Ronald Jones
	Professor Otto Meth-Cohn
	Professor David Nutt
	Dr. Diana Patterson
	Mrs. Kay Roberts
	Dr. Sue Ruben
	Professor Dr John Strang
	Members who attended the Council meeting on 15 January 2002:
	Professor Sir Michael Rawlins, Chairman of the Council
	Mrs. Joy Barlow
	Mr. Norman Bettison
	Reverend Martin Blakeborough
	Mr. Raj Boyjoonauth
	Mr. Alexander Cameron
	Dr. Michael Donmall
	Ms Vivienne Evans
	Dr. Laurence Gruer
	Ms Kim Hager
	Mr. Peter Hampson
	Mr. Paul Hayes
	Dep. Assistant Commissioner Andy Hayman
	Mr. Russell Hayton
	Ms Lorraine Hewitt
	Mr. Roger Howard
	Mr. Alan Hunter
	Professor Ronald Jones
	Professor Otto Meth-Cohn
	Mr. Michael Narayn Singh
	Professor David Nutt
	Dr. Diana Patterson
	Mrs. Kay Roberts
	Mrs. Patricia Roberts
	Dr. Roy Robertson
	Dr. Sue Ruben
	Mr. Ian Sherwood
	Professor John Strang

Police Cars

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his policy is on police cars displaying the Union Flag.

John Denham: This is an operational matter for individual Chief Officers of police, although we are not aware of any force that has included the Union Flag as part of standard vehicle livery. There are no restrictions under the general law on the display of the Union Flag on land in England and Wales other than those imposed by the provisions of the Trade Descriptions Act 1968 and the Trade Marks Act 1994, which relate to the reproduction of flags in trade marks.

Prison Programmes

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on prison rehabilitation programmes.

Hilary Benn: One of the principal objectives of the Prison Service is to reduce crime by providing constructive regimes which address offending behaviour, improve educational and work skills and promote law abiding behaviour in custody and after release. The Prison Service increasingly draws upon "What Works" research to develop a more evidence based approach to tackling offending behaviour and the factors that contribute to re-offending. The What Works in Prison Strategy, launched last year, provides a clear direction for the further development of constructive regimes to reduce the risk of re-offending. The strategy encompasses accredited offending behaviour programmes, drug treatment programmes, increased education provision and a custody to work strategy to improve resettlement outcomes. The Prison and Probation Services have been set the challenging but achievable target of reducing the level of reconvictions by fiver per cent. by 2004 compared to the predicted rate.

Prison Programmes

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the budgets were for (a) offending behaviour programmes, (b) drug treatment and (c) basic skills education in prisons in each year between 1995 and 2002; and if he will make a statement on future spending plans.

Hilary Benn: (a) Offending Behaviour Programmes (OBPs).
	
		£ million
		
			  1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 
		
		
			  
			 Comprehensive Spending Review — — — — 7.3 8.4 8.9 8.9 8.9 
			 Crime Reduction Programme — — — — 0.7 1.1 1.5 — — 
			 Spending Review 2000 — — — — — — — 3.6 11.6 
		
	
	In addition, in each year there is an element of baseline funding for OBPs which cannot be accurately disaggregated from establishment budgets. Future spending plans are to maintain investment at 2003–04 levels.
	(b) Drug Interventions: Between 1995–96 and 2003–04, the Prison Service has been allocated £143 million for drug interventions. The respective annual allocations are shown in the table.
	
		£ million
		
			  1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 
		
		
			  
			 Public Expenditure Survey 3 5 6 7 — — — — — 
			 Comprehensive Spending Review — — — — 13.0 17.0 17.0 17.0 17.0 
			 Spending Review 2000 — — — — — — 10.0 17.0 14.0 
		
	
	The Government's 2002 Spending Review has made provision for significant, additional funding for drugs misuse. In particular, investment in aftercare and throughcare links will help ensure that the gains made while prisoners are in custody will not be lost on their release. Provision is included to boost drug treatment in prisons.
	(c) Education:
	
		£ million
		
			 Year Core funding 
		
		
			 1995–96 37.0 
			 1996–97 34.5 
			 1997–98 36.2 
			 1998–99 39.0 
			 1999–2000 47.4 
			 2000–01 50.9 
			 2001–02 57.0 
			 2002–03 66.0 
			 2003–04 85.0 
		
	
	From 2001–02, budgets for prison education have been ring-fenced and allocated by the Prisoners' Learning and Skills Unit, which reports to the Department for Education and the Home Office. The core budget rose from £57 million in 2001–02 to £66 million in 2002–03, and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education (Charles Clarke) recently announced that it will rise to £85 million 2003–04, £110 million in 2004–05 and £125 million in 2005–06. Core funding buys teaching hours, induction and assessment sessions, Library services and education materials. While basic skills are a significant part of prisons' education provision, and each prison has basic skills targets, we cannot say exactly how much of overall education funding goes on basic skills.

Prison Programmes

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many prisoners have participated in the Cognitive Self-Change Programme since its inception; and what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the programme;
	(2)  how many prisoners participated in the Enhanced Thinking Skills programme since its inception; and what plans there are to expand the programme.

Hilary Benn: One hundred and seventy-seven prisoners have participated in the Cognitive Self-Change programme since it was accredited in September 2000. Effectiveness is currently evaluated through reports on institutional behaviour, psychometric data, and risk assessments. Early provisional indications show reductions in hostility, aggression and impulsivity in prisoners undertaking the programme. Reconviction data will in due course also be used to evaluate effectiveness.
	Since the inception of the Enhanced Thinking Skills (ETS) programme, 18,564 prisoners had participated up to 31 March 2002. This figures will increase by about 5,000 prisoners for 2002–03, and over 6,000 prisoners in subsequent years due to additional funding to increase delivery.

Prison Programmes

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff he employs to conduct research into projects, schemes, programmes or courses run for the Prison Service.

Hilary Benn: There are currently 18 members of staff employed to conduct research into projects, schemes, programmes or courses run for the Prison Service.
	However, research may form part of the duties to be performed by members of staff other than these core 18 personnel.

Prison Programmes

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average length of time required was to research, evaluate and accredit a project or scheme being run for the Prison Service in the last three years.

Hilary Benn: The average length of time required was two years to adapt or develop Prison Service programmes to accreditation standard in the last three years. Time scales will vary depending on the complexity of the programme, the availability of research data and resources, and competing priorities.

Prisoners (Drug Treatment)

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the effect on drug users of RAPt in the prisons at which RAPt runs programmes.

Hilary Benn: holding answer 13 February 2003
	Initial research into reconviction rates of RAPt, Rehabilitation for Addicted Prisoners' Trust programme graduates is encouraging; it shows a 40 per cent. reconviction rate, compared to an expected 51 per cent.
	Emerging findings suggest that, for graduates who receive secondary aftercare on release, reconviction rates can be as low as 30 per cent., compared to expected rate of 54 per cent.

Probation Service

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many probation staff left the Probation Service in England and Wales in each financial year since 1997–98, broken down by grade.

Hilary Benn: The information requested is as follows:
	
		Number of leavers(23)—England and Wales
		
			  1997 1998 1999 2000 (24)2001–02 
		
		
			 Deputy chief officers 4 6 1 9 7 
			 Assistant chief officers(25) 31 18 18 17 75 
			 Senior probation officers 87 84 104 313 148 
			 Probation officers(26) 485 465 612 593 417 
			 Probation service officers(27) 169 210 233 290 (27)— 
			 All other staff 760 729 596 429 1,266 
			 Total 1,536 1,512 1,664 1,651 1,913 
		
	
	(23) Figures shown in headcount and were collected for calendar years only 1997–2000 inclusive.
	(24) 1,200 staff moved to family court welfare in April 2001. Information on specific grades of these staff are unavailable and therefore have been taken from probation officers and all other staff.
	(25) Includes area managers.
	(26) Includes senior practitioners, trainee probation officers, temporary probation officers.
	(27) PSOs included in other staff 2001–02 onwards.

Probation Service

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the forecast spending is on investment in the Probation Service from 2003 to 2008.

Hilary Benn: The summary budget for the National Probation Service is set out in the table.
	
		£ million
		
			  2002–03 2003–04 
		
		
			 Probation Boards Revenue Grant 520.0 560.0 
			 Hostels Revenue Grant 42.7 49.0 
			 Probation Officer Training 42.0 53.0 
			 Estates and Hostels Capital Programme 18.3 18.3 
			 National Directorate Budgets 52.8 65.7 
			 Total 675.8 746.0 
		
	
	The major items of capital investment are the £18.3 million on the commercial estate and hostels and investment in new information technology equipment.
	Budgets for 2004–05 and 2005–06 have not yet been finalised. Budgets from 2005–06 onwards are subject to the next spending review.

Probation Service

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what forecast his Department has made of the number of probation officers required to manage the caseloads of non-custodial sentences; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: The most recent information regarding the current staff establishment of the National Probation Service is as follows:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 Probation officers 7,506 
			 Probation Services officers 3,566 
			 Other staff 4,716 
		
	
	Source:
	RDS Probation statistics 2001.
	It is estimated that the provisions within the Criminal Justice Bill would require an additional 2,000 full-time equivalent probation officers and an additional 1,500 full-time equivalent Probation Services officers in the year of full implementation.

Probation Service

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many probation officers were employed by the National Probation Service in each year since 1990.

Hilary Benn: The information requested is as follows:
	
		Numbers of probation officers(28),(29)— England and Wales
		
			  Probation officers Probation service officers Total 
		
		
			 1990 6,909 1,791 8,700 
			 1991 7,153 1,863 9,016 
			 1992 7,484 1,881 9,365 
			 1993 7,666 1,942 9,608 
			 1994 7,776 1,971 9,747 
			 1995 7,455 1,914 9,369 
			 1996 7,312 1,895 9,207 
			 1997 7,149 1,919 9,068 
			 1998 7,193 2,027 9,220 
			 1999 7,519 2,502 10,021 
			 2000 7,571 2,869 10,440 
			 2001 7,506 3,566 11,072 
		
	
	(28) Numbers shown as whole time equivalents
	(29) Information shown taken at 31 December.
	Although the question specifically asks for the number of probation officers, the information on probation service officers has also been provided. There has been an increasing growth in the use of probation service officers to support the work undertaken by probation officers. In particular, the use of accredited programme has seen a number of low/medium risk offenders supervised as part of a group rather than on an individual basis as has occurred in the past. Probation service officers, who receive specific training to enable them to manage these programmes and supervise the offenders participating, run these accredited programmes.

Private Finance Initiative

Alex Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many departmental minutes issued by his Department were outstanding on 30 November 2002 that referred to public-private partnerships, as included in Table B14 of the Consolidated Fund and National Loans Fund Accounts; and what their value was.

Hilary Benn: holding answer 13 January 2003
	The contingent liabilities associated with the Home Department's public-private partnerships at 30 November 2002 were as follows:
	1. Her Majesty's Prison Service—The Crown acts as insurer of last resort in respect of contracts to design, construct, manage and finance new prisons. The liability runs for the construction period plus an operational period of 25 years in respect of each new prison. Amount: unquantifiable;
	2. Police Information and Technology Unit—The Airwave Project with 02 (formerly the mobile communications arm of BT) for the Police Service. The estimated costs of termination range from £480 million to more than £700 million. There would also be additional costs associated with the introduction of an alternative to Airwave;
	3. Home Office Pay and Pension Service—Covering the potential loss of Home Office funds transmitted using the contractor's equipment. The risk is small as the contract includes all the usual safeguards for the authorisation process required by the Bankers Automated Clearing System.
	Potential, but unlikely, largest single risk £80 million; and
	4. The Home Office contract with Sirius for providing computer services. The estimated costs of termination range from £14.14 million to £33.62 million.

Young Offenders

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research his Department has undertaken to assess the impact on re-offending rates of offenders who have completed the National Grid Transco Foundation in Reading young offender institution; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: The National Grid Transco Foundation supports the delivery of gas groundwork engineering training and forklift truck driving training for prisoners at Reading young offender institution. None of the nine prisoners who have completed the gas groundwork engineering training, and only six of more than 90 prisoners who have completed the forklift truck driving training, are reported as having re-offended since their release. The Prison Service is now working with the National Grid Transco Foundation to introduce the training at other establishments.

Parliamentary Questions

Humfrey Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  when he will answer the question of 15 January 2003 from the hon. Member for Woking, concerning restraining orders for serial offenders;
	(2)  when he will answer the question of 15 January 2003 from the hon. Member for Woking, concerning travel restriction orders.

Hilary Benn: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 31 January 2003, Official Report, column 398W. I apologise for the delay in responding.

Retail Industry Crime

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his answer of 14 January 2003, Official Report, column 585W, on Retail Industry Crime, how many small retail businesses have (a) applied for and (b) received a grant from the Government to improve security on their property; and if he will list those consulted in the preparation of the new survey of crime affecting retail and manufacturing business.

John Denham: Funding under the Small Retailers in Deprived Areas Initiative is allocated directly to regional Crime Reduction Directors, whose responsibility it is to distribute the money to Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships (CDRPs) covering the 10 per cent. most deprived wards in the region. Proposals invited from CDRPs have to meet the scheme's strict criteria, and are worked up in close conjunction with the regional Crime Reduction Director, who submits them to me for approval. All proposals submitted to me in the first two years of the initiative have been approved without exception.
	Overall, in the first year of the initiative (2001–02), almost 3,000 small businesses benefited, while in the second year over 4,500 retailers and small businesses stand to benefit from this funding.
	The Crime Against Business survey is funded jointly by the Home Office, Her Majesty's Treasury, and the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's Neighbourhood Renewal Unit and the Small Business Service (an agency of the Department for Trade and Industry). The British Retail Consortium, British Chambers of Commerce, and the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) have also been consulted and closely involved in the survey. Representatives from all the above organisations, public and private, have participated from the outset as steering group members and tender panel representatives and have also had input into the survey methodology and questionnaire content.
	The Association of Conveniences Stores, the Federation of Small Business and the British Shops and Stores Association have pledged their support for the survey.
	Telephone interviews and postal questionnaires were piloted with members of the business community.

Road Traffic Offences

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many successful prosecutions there have been under the Road Traffic Act 1991 c40 section 3 in each year since 1991.

Hilary Benn: The information is given in the table.
	The Government's response to the consultation exercise on road traffic penalties, setting out our final recommendations, was published on 24 July 2002. This report sets out our commitment to raising the penalty for causing death by dangerous driving and causing death by careless driving while under the influence of drink or drugs, from 10 years to 14 years imprisonment as soon as parliamentary timetable allows.
	The Criminal Justice Bill will introduce new sentences for dangerous offenders that will ensure that offenders committing an offence under section 3 of the Road Traffic Act, who have also been assessed as dangerous, may remain in custody for as long as they are considered to pose a risk of harm to the public.
	
		Proceedings and findings of guilt at all courts for the offence of causing death by careless driving while under influence of drink or drugs(30)in England and Wales 1991 to 2001 -- England and Wales Number of offences
		
			  Total proceedings for trial at magistrates courts Total findings of guilt at all courts(31) 
		
		
			 1991 (32)— (32)— 
			 1992 6 1 
			 1993 63 29 
			 1994 48 50 
			 1995 51 53 
			 1996 63 67 
			 1997 78 67 
			 1998 80 71 
			 1999 63 49 
			 2000 72 57 
			 2001 66 32 
		
	
	(30) Section 3 of the Road Traffic Act 1991 (implemented on 25 July 1991) introduced the offence and inserted it into the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988 as section 3A, triable on indictment with a maximum sentence of five years or a fine or both (extended to 10 years under the Criminal Justice Act 1993, section 67.
	(31) Includes youth court cases sent for sentence, offence proceeding against in earlier years or for other offences.
	(32) Not available.

Sally Clark

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to review the procedures carried out by Home Office pathologists into the deaths of infants in suspicious circumstances following the Court of Appeal judgment on Sally Clark.

John Denham: I commissioned an independent review of Forensic Pathology Services in England and Wales last year.
	The review report recommended that:
	1. the decline in numbers of forensic pathologists should be reversed through a sustained training programme;
	2. improved administrative arrangements should be put in place, monitoring service levels and ensuring that standards are maintained; and
	3. steps should be taken to ensure that there are improved facilities for the conduct of post-mortem examinations.
	Now that the review has been discussed by the Policy Advisory Board for Forensic Pathology, it is under consideration by the Government.

Sex Tourism

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps are being taken to tackle sex tourism by British people, with particular reference to those who are known paedophiles; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: The Government are committed to eradicating the sexual exploitation of children, including where United Kingdom citizens go abroad to abuse children. We have already put in place a number of measures to deal with this problem:
	The Sex Offenders Act 1997 enables courts in the United Kingdom to deal with UK citizens who commit sex offences against children abroad. This provision is being re-enacted in the Sexual Offences Bill;
	Since June 2001, 'registered' sex offenders are required to notify the police if they intend to travel abroad for eight days or more. The police can, and do, pass this information to other jurisdictions where they believe the offender may commit offences overseas;
	We are proposing, as part of the Sexual Offences Bill, a new order that would require those who have committed sex offences overseas to register if they come to the UK (which will mean they will have to notify the police if they intend to travel abroad);
	The Criminal Justice (Terrorism and Conspiracy) Act 1998 makes it an offence for a person to conspire to commit an offence outside the UK, including sexual offences against children.
	As my right hon. Friends the Home Secretary, the Prime Minister and Lord Falconer have recently made clear, we are looking further at the issue of sex tourism, including the number of days a sex offender 'registered' in the United Kingdom can travel overseas before he is required to notify the police. We are determined to ensure that effective arrangements are put in place to tackle this issue and we will address this in the Sexual Offences Bill.
	However, legislation is not the only way of dealing with this problem. Sex tourism is one part of a wider set of issues in which poor people—particularly young women and children—are vulnerable to the interests of the sex industry, national and international trafficking and associated illegal activities. It is an international problem which requires internationally coordinated action. We are working with Governments, law enforcement agencies and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to tackle this problem head on wherever it occurs.
	The Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Department for International Development support projects in many parts of the world aimed at combating those who commit offences against children. Much of the focus of such projects is on reducing the vulnerability of young people being recruited into this industry. Across Government, we are supporting the efforts of regional and international agencies to combat trafficking, strengthen law enforcement and improve the mechanisms for prosecution of those who commit sex offences abroad.
	The Government are actively involved in a number of projects to combat sexual exploitation, particularly in South East Asia.
	Through the International Labour Organisation we are funding a major programme in South East Asia to raise awareness, help women and children escape from sexual exploitation, and reintegrate them into their own or new communities.
	We are working with World Vision in Cambodia to run an information programme on the dangers of sexual exploitation aimed at children at risk, local authorities and the tourism industry.
	We are funding projects to help train the Cambodian police to detect and disrupt paedophile activity and to raise awareness of the issue among street children.
	We have worked to improve child protection and support in Thailand by bringing over expert trainers from the Northumberland police and The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC).
	We have provided child protection equipment and training to the Thai Public Welfare Department.
	We have funded the translation and adaptation of End Child Prostitution Pornography and Trafficking (ECPAT's) "Guide to Protecting Children Online" for use in Thailand, Philippines, Indonesia and Japan.
	We have arranged for the National High Tech Crime Unit (NHTCU) to bring computer hardware and software to combat child abuse online and train officers from the Royal Thai police; and
	there is also close and regular collaboration between officials in Bangkok and their Thai counterparts on the movements and activities of known United Kingdom paedophiles.

Teenage Drug Use (Leeds)

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many teenagers he estimates have tried class A drugs in the (a) Leeds West constituency and (b) the city of Leeds in the last three years; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Ainsworth: Data on drug use by teenagers is not available at constituency or city level. The following table provides information about the percentage of 16–19 year olds who have ever tried a Class A drug in (a) Yorkshire and Humberside and.(b) England and Wales reported as part of the British Crime Survey (BCS).
	
		Percentage of 16–19 year olds who have ever tried a Class A drug -- Percentage
		
			  BCS 1998 BCS 2000 BCS 2001–02 
		
		
			 Yorkshire and Humberside 27 17 10 
			 England and Wales 16 14 11 
		
	
	It should not be concluded from any of these results that young people in Yorkshire and Humberside are any more or less likely to have ever tried a Class A drug. In 1998 and 2000 particularly the regional result is based on a very small sample (57 and 58 16–19 year olds respectively) which may not be representative of the population in this area.
	For the same reason, the apparent dramatic decline in the percentage of 16–19 year olds having ever tried a Class A drug in the Yorkshire and Humberside region over the three surveys, should be treated with caution.
	"The Drug use, smoking and drinking among young people in England in 2001 "survey estimates that 6 per cent. of school children aged between 11 and 15 years olds have tried a class A drug. No geographical breakdown is available for this age group.

Unsafe Convictions

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the inquiry chaired by Lord Steyn on the definition of unsafe conviction.

Hilary Benn: holding answer 9 December 2002
	We have confirmed with Lord Steyn that he has not chaired such an inquiry.

Departmental Vehicles

Jeffrey M Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made with renewal of his Department's and its agencies' vehicle fleets on a lower emission basis, broken down by volume and percentage for each category of vehicle, type of power unit and type of fuel on an annual basis, over each of the past three years.

Hilary Benn: Home Office environmental policy on vehicle replacement states that wherever possible, vehicles purchased will encompass either dual fuel technology (for example Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG)/ petrol) or be high-pressure direct injection diesel with particulate filters. With the introduction of the new carbon dioxide (CO2) based tax regime, CO2 emissions are taken into consideration, particularly in cases where a diesel option cannot be specified, in the small car sector.
	In 2000–01, 43 per cent. of new cars ordered were diesel powered. In 2001–02, 69 per cent. of all new cars ordered were either diesel or LPG fuelled, rising to 76 per cent. in 2002–03. The following table illustrates the trend towards the acquisition of more environmentally friendly vehicles during the last three years.
	
		Numbers of vehicles procured by Her Majesty's Prison Service between 2002–03 and 2000–01
		
			 Type ofvehicle Numbers of vehicles acquired Diesel powered Petrol LPG/petrol powered Proportion of diesel and LPG/ Petrol (percentage) 
		
		
			 2002–03  
			 Cars 731 489 236 6 68 
			 LCV(33) 432 413 19 — 96 
			 HCV(34) 111 111 — — 100 
			 Total 1,274 1,013 255 6 80 
			   
			 2001–02  
			 Cars 814 536 271 6 66 
			 LCV 466 438 28 — 94 
			 HCV 113 113 — — 100 
			 Total 1,393 1,087 299 6 78 
			 2000–01  
			 Cars 693 401 292 — 58 
			 LCV 485 443 42 — 91 
			 HCV 166 166 — — 100 
			 Total 1,344 1,010 334 — 75 
		
	
	(33) LCV—Light Commercial Vehicle up to 7.5 tonnes.
	(34) HCV—Heavy Commercial Vehicle over 7.5 tonnes.

West Yorkshire Police

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of the budget for West Yorkshire Police is spent on pension funds in 2002–03.

John Denham: The Chief Constable informs me that the proportion of budget estimated to be spent on police pensions in 2002–03 is 15 per cent.

DEFENCE

Army (Gender and Culture Report)

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what action is proposed as a result of the report "Gendered Bodies, Personnel Policies and the Culture of the British Army".

Angela Watkinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of the study undertaken for the Ministry of Defence to identify sexism in the army; who undertook the survey; what methodology was used; how many people were consulted and of what gender; and for what purpose the results of the survey will be used.

Lewis Moonie: The study into gender and culture in the contemporary British Army, "Gendered Bodies, Personnel Policies and the Culture of the British Army", is an independent report, completed at the University of Newcastle, into employment practices and policies within the Army.
	The research was not commissioned by the Ministry of Defence, but was completed with the full co-operation of the Army and part-funded under the Joint Grant Scheme that encourages research relevant to the Department's long-term research programme.
	To date, the Army and Ministry of Defence have examined a summary of the report. The full report will be examined closely in due course but there is no specific action intended as a result of this study at this time.
	The Department certainly will not ignore the report's findings and, from what has been gleaned from the report summary so far, in many respects is moving in the
	direction suggested in the way women are recognised and treated.
	The report's originators have agreed that I can place a copy of the report in the Library of the House.

Ammunition Exports

Richard Younger-Ross: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what ammunition has been sent abroad for disposal under civilian contract since 1997; and to which countries they have been sent.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 10 February 2003
	Since 1997, surplus (5.56mm, 7.62mm and 0.303mm) small arms ammunition has been sold overseas. The countries it was sold to are the United States, Netherlands, Australia, Finland, Philippines, Canada and Latvia. Additionally, in 1999, 10,000 Self Loading Rifles (SLRs) with 7.62mm ammunition were sold to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, which subsequently gifted them to the Government of Sierra Leone as part of a wider assistance package.

Anglo-French Collaboration

George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the UK's military projects involving Anglo-French collaboration since 1980, and set out their current status.

Adam Ingram: I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

Anti-rabies Testing

Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what risk assessment was conducted before anti-rabies testing at Dundrennan Range; and what further assessment has since been made of the risks to (a) local people, (b) pets, and (c) other livestock arising from the testing.

Elliot Morley: I have been asked to reply.
	The field trial was authorised by the ACP (Advisory Committee on Pesticides) who performed an independent evaluation of the risks of the trial, and stipulated certain conditions to further reduce such risks.
	The Central Science Laboratory's (CSL) own risk assessment was that the risks to local people, pets and other livestock was extremely low. No poisoning incidents have occurred as a result of the trial, and the overall level of pesticide used at Dundrennan was between 10,000 and one million times less (per square kilometre) than the level used during certain agricultural practices.

Army Training

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which army initial training establishments were not visited in the context of the appraisal of initial training carried out by the Director of Operational Capability between 3rd October and 18th December 2002.

Adam Ingram: The Director of Operational Capability did not visit the following Army non-officer initial training establishments:
	Army Training Regiment—Winchester
	Royal Military School of Music—Kneller Hall
	Armour Centre—Bovington and Lulworth
	Royal School of Military Engineering—Minley
	Royal School of Signals—Blandford
	School of Army Aviation—Middle Wallop
	Defence Logistics Support Training Group—Deepcut, Kineton and Aldershot
	Adjutant General's Corps Training Group—Worthy Down
	Defence Animal Centre—Melton Mowbray
	Royal Military Police Training School—Chichester

Capital Projects

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place the evaluations for Capital Modernisation Fund projects in his Department since 1998 in the Library; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: The Ministry of Defence has been involved in five Capital Modernisation Fund projects to date. Some are not yet complete. I will ensure that all evaluation reports, when completed, are placed in the Library of the House except where there are security or other confidentiality grounds for not doing so.

Civil Contingency Reaction Force

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects the Territorial Army to have the capacity to sustain a command structure for a full time headquarters for the new Civil Contingency Reaction Force.

Adam Ingram: The 14 Civil Contingencies Reaction Forces (CCRFs) are not grouped in a single formation with a separate headquarters. They form force elements which may be called on, alongside regular units, by the established chain of command (Ministry of Defence, Land Command, Divisional HQs and Regional Brigades) in the event of a request for military assistance by the civil authorities.
	New Volunteer Reserve posts have been established at Brigade and Divisional level to reinforce existing command and control arrangements for all military assistance operations, whether or not CCRFs are involved.
	Each CCRF is parented by a Territorial Army infantry battalion. Additional posts have been established within these battalions to support CCRF staff and training activities.
	Recruitment for these new posts is in progress, with the aim of filling all posts by 31 December 2003.

Civilian Staff (Northern Ireland)

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the (a) numerical and (b) percentage breakdown by perceived community origin are of his civilian staff employed in Northern Ireland.

Lewis Moonie: The numerical and percentage breakdown of the civilian staff employed by the Ministry of Defence in Northern Ireland as at 1 January 2003 is set out in the table below.
	
		
			   Male  Female  Total 
			  Number Percentage Number Percentage Number Percentage 
		
		
			 Protestant 1,462 42.8 992 29.1 2,454 71.9 
			 Roman Catholic 254 7.4 192 5.6 446 13.1 
			 Others 344 10.1 170 5.0 514 15.0 
			 Total 2,060 60.3 1,354 39.7 3,414

Laptops

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many laptop computers were used by (a) Ministers and special advisers and (b) officials in his Department in each year since 1995; how many were (i) lost and (ii) stolen; what their cost was; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: Information regarding the number of laptop computers used within the Ministry of Defence in any given year is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost. The same applies to information regarding any items recorded as lost. With regard to the number of laptop computers suspected of being stolen, reported cases are recorded centrally on a summary basis only. Those records relate to items suspected of being stolen and so it cannot be assumed that theft actually applies in every case. Information regarding stolen laptop computers is only readily available from 1997–98 and is here related to cases where the value of suspected loss exceeds £1,000.
	
		
			 Year Total (£) 
		
		
			 1997–98 18 38,010 
			 1998–99 3 6,885 
			 1999–00   
			 2000–01 4 7,748 
			 2001–02 12 31,530

Laptops

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many cases of computer (a) hacking, (b) fraud and (c) theft his Department recorded in 2001–02; and on how many occasions computer systems have been illegally accessed by computer hackers (i) within and (ii) outside his Department.

Lewis Moonie: The number of incidents affecting computer systems for the years 2001 and 2002 are summarised in the following table:
	
		
			 Incident Type 2001 2002 
		
		
			 Computer Hacking Totals: of which: 
			 Public website defacements 
			 Internal incursions 12 
			 2 
			 10 7 
			 1 
			 6 
			 Computer Fraud 4 0 
			 Computer Theft 118 155 
		
	
	None of the instances of hacking had any operational impact, and despite widespread and frequent probes of Ministry of Defence firewalls connected to the Internet, there is no evidence of any successful incursion from an external source to any Departmental computer system.
	In the case of computer fraud, all instances are cases where MOD computers have been used in support of fraudulent activities, rather than fraudulent use of a computer—based system.

Departmental Assets

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his estimate is of the total revenues from the disposal of defence assets from April 2001 to December 2002; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: The total revenues from the disposal of defence assets from April 2001 to December 2002 is about £400 million. Information on asset disposals is published annually in the Consolidated Departmental Resource Accounts. The latest information (that for financial year 2001–02) is contained in HC 47 of 21 November 2002, copies of which are available in the Library of the House and on the Ministry of Defence website.

Departmental Assets

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his estimate is of the value of the land and building assets of his Department in each year from 1990–91 to 2001–02; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: We publish information on the value of Ministry of Defence land and building assets annually, and have done this since 1999–2000, in MOD's Consolidated Departmental Resource Accounts. These values are mainly based on the operational value of the estate to MOD and do not represent the market or sale value of the properties in question. For ease of reference, the figures are:
	
		
			  £ billion 
		
		
			  
			  
			 1999–2000 14.1 
			 2000–01 14.4 
			 2001–02 14.3 
		
	
	These are audited figures, which reflect the impact of indexation, additions, disposals and depreciation arising each year. Copies of the accounts have been placed in the Library of the House.
	We also have (unaudited) estimates for:
	
		
			  £ billion 
		
		
			  
			  
			 1997–98(35) 13.4 
			 1998–99 13.7 
		
	
	(35) The first year for which MOD-wide valuation information is available.

Departmental Consultations

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list consultations his Department has conducted since 1997; and when each consultation (a) opened and (b) closed.

Lewis Moonie: The Cabinet Office Code of Practice on Written Consultation applies to all formal national public consultation documents issued by Departments from 1 January 2001 and the information requested is not available before that date.
	Since 1 January 2001, the following formal national public consultation documents have been issued by the Ministry of Defence:
	
		
			  Consultation Period 
			 Formal National Public Consultation Date opened Date closed 
		
		
			 Future of the Defence Diversification Agency 1 February 2001 23 March 2001 
			 Proposed introduction of the voluntary screening programme following health concerns in respect of depleted uranium 13 February 2001 9 March 2001 
			 The Military Maritime Graves and the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986 14 February 2001 14 May 2001 
			 Armed Forces pension scheme review 1 March 2001 31 July 2001 
			 Joint compensation review 1 March 2001 31 July 2001 
			 The 2nd consultation document on the introduction of a voluntary screening programme for depleted uranium 11 April 2001 4 July 2001 
			 Ministry of Defence police quinquennial review 26 April 2001 18 December 2001 
		
	
	Further information on these public consultations can be found on the internet under http: //www .mod.uk/consultations.

Domestic Violence

Margaret Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he is taking to (a) increase awareness of domestic violence and (b) provide services and support for the victims of domestic violence within the families of members of the military services.

Lewis Moonie: Domestic violence is a significant social issue and we recognise the need to ensure that it is dealt with effectively within the Armed Forces' community. Domestic violence by Service personnel is not tolerated under any circumstances, not least because of the detrimental impact that such incidents can have on morale, discipline and operational efficiency.
	A tri-Service policy on domestic violence was issued in February 2002. The policy, which has now been implemented by the Services, sets out the roles and responsibilities of the chain of command and the welfare agencies in detecting and dealing with incidents of domestic violence and in providing confidential advice and support. The Services are proactive in increasing awareness about domestic violence to those in command and in publicising (via leaflets, posters and web sites) the services available to possible victims. There are many agencies, both military and civilian, that exist to provide support to victims. The confidential support lines that are operated by the three Services are able to signpost callers to these support agencies. In cases where immediate or imminent harm is suspected the incident is reported to the most readily available police force; primacy rests with the local Home Department Police Force in United Kingdom whereas cases arising overseas are dealt with by the Service police.

E-mail Addresses

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence by what e-mail address members of the public may contact (a) him and (b) each of the Ministers in his Department; and for each e-mail address if he will state (i) the date it became active and (ii) the number of e-mails received in each month since activation.

Lewis Moonie: Members of the public can contact all Defence Ministers via public@ministers.mod.uk. This email address has been active since 1998.
	The table below details the number of emails recorded as received via this address since July 2000, from when these statistics have been collected:
	
		
			 2000 Number 
		
		
			 July 311 
			 August 2,872 
			 September 1,409 
			 October 594 
			 November 427 
			 December 350 
			 Total 6,477 
		
	
	
		
			 2001 Number 
		
		
			 January 241 
			 February 585 
			 March 394 
			 April 209 
			 May 476 
			 June 533 
			 July 148 
			 August 202 
			 September 1,374 
			 October 891 
			 November 627 
			 December 384 
			 Total: 6,064 
		
	
	
		
			 2002 Number 
		
		
			 January 764 
			 February 322 
			 March 480 
			 April 2,280 
			 May 873 
			 June 700 
			 July 1,891 
			 August 1,506 
			 September 562 
			 October 474 
			 November 539 
			 December 140 
			 Total: 10,801 
		
	
	
		
			 2003 Number 
		
		
			 January 675 
		
	
	Of the total number of e-mails set out above, over 85 per cent. are categorised as 'spam'; that is, offensive, or circulars, or otherwise not worthy of a response.

Experiments (Human Volunteers)

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many experiments sponsored by his Department have used human volunteers in each year since 1997; and if he will list them, broken down by recorded category.

Lewis Moonie: holding answer 27 January 2003
	I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

Firefighters' Dispute

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the total cost incurred by his Department as a result of the fire strikes has been.

Adam Ingram: It is not yet possible to give a reliable estimate of the total cost incurred by the Ministry of Defence as a result of the fire strikes. Costs incurred for the recent strike periods are still being processed through MOD's cost reporting system.

Gulf Deployment (Rules of Engagement)

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which instruments of international law have been considered during the drafting of the rules of engagement for Her Majesty's Armed Forces deploying to the Gulf.

Adam Ingram: All rules of engagement are informed by the need to act in full conformity with international law, including Treaty obligations and relevant United Nations Security Council Resolutions.

HPM Electro-magnetic Pulse Weapon

David Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he or his officials have had with the US Government on the development of the HPM electro-magnetic pulse weapon.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 11 February 2003
	I am withholding the information requested under Exemption 1 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information which relates to national security.

Iraq

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps are being taken to protect UK troops against the potentially toxic environment of Iraq.

Lewis Moonie: Operational planning takes into account the risk of exposure of British troops to potentially toxic environments. Force protection measures include physical protection, medical countermeasures and dissemination of information on individual protective measures to be taken against specific identified threats.

Iraq

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he is planning to introduce the new chemical and biological weapon detection systems for possible operations in Iraq; and if he will make a statement.

Geoff Hoon: There are a number of new chemical and biological detection systems due to enter service soon and be available for possible military action in Iraq. I am withholding the details of these systems under Exemption 1 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information which relates to national security.

Iraq

Mike Wood: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will take steps to establish the number of civilian casualties caused by British military action taken in enforcement of the Iraqi no-fly zones; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: We conduct extensive analysis after every response made in self-defence by coalition aircraft patrolling the No Fly Zones.
	Coalition aircrew only ever respond in self-defence against military targets. When attacks by Iraqi air defences force coalition aircraft to respond in this way we go to great lengths to ensure that the risk of civilian casualties is minimised. Targets are selected with extreme care and precision guided weapons are used.

Iraq

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans exist for the transport of military casualties back to the UK in the event of hostilities in Iraq; what aircraft will be used; and what the estimated journey time is.

Lewis Moonie: The transport of military casualties from theatres to the United Kingdom is a well planned and practised procedure. In the event of hostilities in Iraq, military casualties will be taken from Kuwait City International Airport to Cyprus in a military VC10 with a flight time of four hours. They will then be transferred from Cyprus to the United Kingdom by commercial aircraft again with a flight time of four hours.

Iraq

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on NATO policy in respect of Iraq.

Adam Ingram: At the Prague Summit in November 2002, the NATO Allies committed themselves to take effective action to assist and support the efforts of the United Nations to ensure full and immediate compliance by Iraq, without conditions or restrictions, with UN Security Council Resolution 1441. This remains the NATO policy.

Land Sales (Ashford)

Matthew Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what land has been sold by his Department in the Ashford area in the last five years.

Lewis Moonie: The Ministry of Defence has sold land in Ashford as follows:
	A small part of Rowcroft Barracks was sold to Kent CC for the A20/A28 link road.
	Parts of Rowcroft Barracks and Templer Barracks was sold for the Channel Tunnel Rail Link.
	The remainder of Rowcroft and Templer Barracks was sold for development.
	The former Oil Pipeline Agency site at Wye to the NE of Ashford was sold for development.

Merlin HC3 Helicopters

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence why his Department has not deployed Merlin HC3 Helicopters to the Gulf.

Adam Ingram: The Merlin HC3 is yet to achieve the required level of operational capability for it to be deployed to the Gulf region.

Ministerial Travel

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many times since 2001 he has taken flights on departmental duties in the UK; how many of these were (a) charter flights, (b) first or club-class and (c) by helicopter; and who accompanied him on each trip.

Lewis Moonie: Since 2001, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence has taken 25 flights on Ministry of Defence duties within the United Kingdom, which are broken down as follows:
	seven by RAF aircraft—accompanied by relevant Ministry of Defence officials, and on one occasion by his Parliamentary Private Secretary;
	one by club-class return civil flight—accompanied by a Private Secretary; and
	17 by Service helicopter—accompanied by relevant Ministry of Defence officials.
	All travel is undertaken fully in accordance with the rules set out in the Ministerial Code and Travel by Ministers, copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House.

Operation Telic

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the LOA and LSSA as it applies to personnel serving on Operation Telic.

Adam Ingram: Local Overseas Allowance (LOA) is not part of the military salary or a reward for overseas service, but a cost of living addition paid only in circumstances where personnel are likely to incur greater day-to-day expenditure overseas than they would in the United Kingdom. This is not generally the case for those deployed on operations.
	Those personnel who are temporarily deployed away from their permanent, LOA earning, duty station, and no longer incurring the full range of additional costs associated with that station, still have on-going financial commitments overseas, and many have families who remain at the permanent duty station. Consequently, all Service personnel continue to receive the full LOA rate for the first 17 days of their deployment. Additionally, married accompanied personnel continue to receive their full LOA rate unless their accompanying spouse also leaves the permanent duty station for more than 17 days, at which point an abatement of approximately 35 per cent. is applied. Single or married unaccompanied personnel lose 20 per cent. of their full LOA rate after the first 17 days.
	Personnel on Operation Telic who meet the eligibility criteria will receive Longer Separated Service Allowance (LSSA) or (for those serving in seagoing units) Longer Service at Sea Bonus (LSSB). These allowances compensate personnel, regardless of marital status, for the effects of separation from home life. They are paid at three rates dependent upon periods of accumulated separation. LSSA is paid for unbroken periods of separation of 10 days or more, while LSSB is paid continuously while in qualifying units. Bonuses are available for those who experience very high levels of accumulated separation and these will be increased to £1,250. In order to reduce the incidence of junior personnel experiencing more than one operational tour without compensation for separation, MOD will reduce the initial qualifying period for LSSA from 18 months' service to 12 months. We are also about to increase the higher rate of LSSB and to reduce the qualifying criteria for LSSB bonuses.
	The decision to enhance these separation allowances reflects the Ministry of Defence's wish to target those on operations, particularly our most junior personnel. In view of the current operational deployment, it has been decided to introduce the changes with effect from 1 March 2003, following a recommendation by the Armed Forces' Pay Review Body.

Deepcut Barracks

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for how many days Private Steven MacNaughton was missing without leave from Deepcut Barracks from 7 November 2002; what disciplinary action was taken subsequently; and what reasons were given for his absence.

Lewis Moonie: The information requested is personal data protected by the Data Protection Act 1998, and cannot be released without the individual's consent. The information is also withheld in accordance with Exemption 12, privacy of an individual, of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

QinetiQ

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list, by site, his best current assessment of the land assets of QinetiQ.

Lewis Moonie: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 13 March 2002, Official Report, column 1165W, to the hon. Member for North Essex (Mr. Jenkin) on the land assets of QinetiQ. Since that answer was given, an unconditional sale agreement has been exchanged for the Aquila site in Bromley, Kent and the sale is due to be completed on 17 March 2003. No other QinetiQ sites have been sold since the company was created in July 2001.

QinetiQ

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list each of the QinetiQ sites which have been sold since the creation of the company, indicating the value of the sale in each case.

Lewis Moonie: An unconditional sale agreement has been exchanged for the Aquila site in Bromley, Kent. The agreement is due to be completed on 17 March 2003. No other sites have been sold since the formation of QinetiQ. Details of the sale value of Aquila are currently considered commercially sensitive. I am therefore withholding that information under Exemption 13 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

Royal Navy (Chilean Visits)

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what Royal Navy vessels have been visited by Chilean Government officials or Chilean armed forces personnel in the past year.

Adam Ingram: During the past 12 months, we are aware of the following Royal Naval vessels having been visited by Chilean Government officials or senior Chilean armed forces personnel in either British or Chilean ports: HMS Leeds Castle; HMS St. Albans; RFA Grey Rover; HMS Sheffield; HMS Boxer and HMS Brave. Information on any visits that may have been paid in locations other than British or Chilean ports is not held centrally.

Service Personnel (Gulf)

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements are in place for the accurate keeping of medical records of military personnel deployed to the middle east; and what progress has been made in introducing a Smart Military Dog-Tag.

Lewis Moonie: It is Ministry of Defence policy that all treatments and vaccinations given to armed forces personnel are to be recorded on their personal medical records. Service personnel are issued with form F Med 965, the Operational Medical Record, prior to deployment and any treatment or medication administered while they are deployed should be recorded on it. The information is transferred to their personal medical records on return to their home base. In addition, electronic medical record systems are used in theatre where practicable. Although the MOD continues to examine the possible use of "smart card" technology to store medical and other personal information, as yet there are no systems available that fully meet the requirements of the armed forces.

Munition Stocks

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the results of the Ministry of Defence's Stockpile Planning Guidance study.

Adam Ingram: Specific information relating to planned munition stocks is withheld under Exemption 1 (Defence, Security and International Relations) of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. However, I can confirm that the Ministry of Defence's stockpile planning guidance is subject to annual review, and the latest review was completed in September 2002.

Vaccine Schedule (Gulf Deployment)

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to obtain informed consent for vaccination for troops deploying to the Gulf.

Lewis Moonie: It is Ministry of Defence policy that vaccinations can only be administered after an individual is found fit and suitable to receive it, and has given informed consent. The administering officer is required to obtain informed verbal consent following an explanation of the vaccination procedure and the risks and benefits of accepting vaccination.

Wheeled Support Vehicles

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to award a contract for the Wheeled Support Vehicles programme; and what delays there have been to the originally forecast in-service date.

Adam Ingram: An announcement on the award of a contract is planned for late 2003. There has been no delay to the approved in-service date.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

"Opportunity and Excellence" White Paper

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the cost is of printing and collating his Department's White Paper on 14–19 year olds "Opportunity and Excellence"; what that cost would have been if it had been produced as a single document; and what the cost was of printing "The Future of Higher Education".

Stephen Twigg: holding answer 3 February 2003
	The recently produced policy document 14–19: opportunity and excellence was not classified as a White Paper. It was published in two parts, a main document and separate annexes, in order to make the document accessible to the wide range of audiences with an interest in 14–19 education and training. This allows the wider audience, such as parents and employers, with a more general interest in 14–19 reform, to order only the smaller main document, while practitioners, for example, can order the detailed annexes in addition. To reflect anticipated demand, we were able to print fewer copies of the annexes.
	The main document and annexes were printed at a cost of £36,100. Summary versions and young people's versions were also printed, tailored in style andpresentation to different target audiences, and folders to allow collation of the different versions as required. The cost of producing these elements was £29,400, and collation costs were around £2,200.
	It is not possible to estimate accurately the cost of producing a single document to the same timescales as the two volumes produced. It is likely that the cost would have been less than those incurred producing two documents, but this is offset against accessibility considerations and the lower quantity of annexes produced. Printing a larger 120 page document also requires different, more expensive, binding techniques. Collation costs would also have been incurred as different combinations of main document, summary and young people's version would have had to be collated fordistribution.
	The cost of printing the main and summary versions of "The Future of Higher Education" was £67,625.

Beacon Schools

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on plans to extend and develop the Beacon schools initiative.

David Miliband: For secondary schools the Beacon school initiative will be replaced by the Leading Edge Programme, which aims to extend active collaboration and develop cutting edge innovation to raise standards across the school system.
	There will be no further expansion of a centrally funded Beacon school programme for primary, nursery and special schools. This is in line with the general wish of head teachers to reduce the proportion of funding delivered through ring-fenced grants and to devolve more funding decisions to local communities. Schools and LEAs will be able to broker and fund collaborative partnerships from within the substantial overall increase in resources provided as a result of the 2002 Spending Review. We are encouraging LEAs to fund this activity. My Department intends to explore arrangements for endorsing local programmes through a Beacon recognition scheme.

Computer Fraud

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many laptop computers were used by (a) Ministers and special advisers and (b) officials in his Department in each year since 1995; how many were (i) lost and (ii) stolen; what their cost was; and if he will make a statement.

Charles Clarke: The number of laptop computers in use in the Department for Education and Skills since 1995 is shown in the table.
	
		
			 Financial year Ministers Special advisors Officials 
		
		
			 1995–96 — — 11 
			 1996–97 — — 375 
			 1997–98 — — 690 
			 1998–99 — — 1,172 
			 1999–2000 3 1 1,586 
			 2000–01 3 2 1,940 
			 2001–02 3 1 2,105 
			 2002–03 3 1 1,861 
		
	
	The following tables detail the equipment stolen and lost from the Department for Education and Skills since 1 May 1997 along with the approximate value of the stolen equipment. Information is not available for earlier years.
	
		Stolen
		
			 Financial year Number of laptops Approximate value per item (£) Total approximate value (£) 
		
		
			  
			  
			 1997–98 5 1,000 5,000 
			 1998–99 7 1,000 7,000 
			 1999–2000 5 1,000 5,000 
			 2000–01 2 1,000 2,000 
			 2001–02 3 1,000 3,000 
			 2002–03 9 1,000 9,000 
		
	
	
		Lost
		
			 Financial year Number of laptops Approximate value per item (£) Total approximate value (£) 
		
		
			  
			  
			 1997–98 12 1,000 12,000 
			 1998–99 11 1,000 11,000 
			 1999–2000 11 1,000 11,000 
			 2000–01 10 1,000 10,000 
			 2001–02 8 1,000 8,000 
			 2002–03 53 1,000 53,000 
		
	
	Notes:
	Electronic secutity tags are fitted to all portable IT equipment held in London. The tags raise an alarm at Reception if an unauthorised person attempts to remove the kit. The level of theft outside London is so low that it is not justified to extend tagging to the Darlington, Runcorn and Sheffield sites of the Department.

Computer Fraud

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many cases of computer (a) hacking, (b) fraud and (c) theft his Department recorded in 2001–02; and on how many occasions computer systems have been illegally accessed by computer hackers (i) within and (ii) outside his Department.

Charles Clarke: During the financial year 2001–02 there have been:
	(a) no detected cases of computer hacking, either by insiders or by persons outside of the Department;
	(b) no cases of computer fraud; and
	(c) three cases of theft of IT equipment by persons outside the Department for Education and Skills.

Degree Courses

Anne Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what research he has conducted into the factors determining the choice of degree course by students; and if he will place the results in the Library.

Margaret Hodge: The department and other organisations have published a number of research reports that have investigated students' choice of course among other issues. These include:
	Connor, H. et al (2001) "Social Class and Higher Education: Issues Affecting Participation by Lower Social Class Groups" DfEE Research Report No. 246
	UCAS (2002) "Paving the Way Project Report".
	Davies, P. et al (2002) "For me or not for me—that is the question. A study of mature students' decision-making and higher education" DfES Research Report 297.
	This research finds that most students choose their course because they are interested in the subject. The expected employment prospects associated with the course is also an important consideration to many students. The mode of delivery and timetabling of the course influences many mature students' choice.
	The most important reason for choosing an institution is that it offers the right subject. The location of the institution is also important, often for financial reasons.

Departmental Consultations

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will list consultations his Department has conducted since it was established; and when each consultation (a) opened and (b) closed.

Stephen Twigg: A list of the public consultations undertaken by my Department since it was established on the 8 June 2001 is in the following table. Information includes the opening and closing dates of each consultation as requested.
	
		
			 Title of consultation Start date End date 
		
		
			 Teachers' Professional Development—Standards Framework Consultation 11 June 2001 20 July 2001 
			 Teachers' Professional Development Division—Development Portfolio Consultation 11 June 2001 20 July 2001 
			 Consultation on Professional Duties of Advanced Skills Teachers 26 June 2001 21 August 2001 
			 July European Commission Memorandum on Lifelong Learning 26 June 2001 28 September 2001 
			 Education Development Plans from 2002—Consultation on draft guidance 27 June 2001 19 September 2001 
			 Consultation on Extending the Use of Parenting Orders 9 July 2001 9 October 2001 
			 Inspection of Local Education Authorities 11 July 2001 11 October 2001 
			 Employment of Teachers who have successfully completed their course of teacher training but have not passed their skills test 24 July 2001 8 August 2001 
			 Standards for the awards of qualified teacher status—initial teacher training 2002–03 26 July 2001 2 November 2001 
			 Draft Regulations Under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 as Amended by the Special Educational Needs and Disability Act 2001 30 July 2001 22 October 2001 
			 The Way Forward—A Modernised Framework for School Governance 5 September 2001 7 November 2001 
			 Better Beginnings—Improving quality and increasing provision in early years education and childcare 5 September 2001 7 November 2001 
			 Consultation on School Admissions 5 September 2001 7 November 2001 
			 Consultation on Exclusion Appeal Panels 5 September 2001 7 November 2001 
			 Registration and Monitoring of Independent Schools 5 September 2001 9 November 2001 
			 Schools Achieving Success 5 September 2001 7 November 2001  
			 Improving Inspection, improving Schools 10 September 2001 10 November 2001 
			 Consultation on targets for English and mathematics at Key Stage 2 in 2004 18 September 2001 14 December 2001 
			 16–19 Organisation and Inspection: A consultation document 24 September 2001 7 November 2001 
			 Expert support for the development of Foundation Stage Practice 5 October 2001 28 December 2001 
			 City Academies: Arrangements for Pupils with SEN and Disabilities 8 October 2001 29 December 2001 
			 Consultation on Proposals arising from the Treasury Review of teachers' Ill Health Retirement 2 November 2001 25 January 2002 
			 Excellence Fellowship Awards 6 November 2001 14 December 2001 
			 Teachers' Pay Reform—Performance Pay Progression Grant 23 November 2001 4 January 2002 
			 Building a Strategy for Children and Young People 25 November 2001 1 March 2002 
			 Consultation on Review of Learning Partnerships 17 December 2001 16 February 2002 
			 Consultation on Review of Arts and Humanities Research Funding 18 December 2001 2 February 2002 
			 Quinquennial Review of Investors in People UK 1 January 2002 28 February 2002 
			 Consultation on Accessible Schools: Planning to increase access to schools for disabled pupils 14 January 2002 25 March 2002 
			 Revised Guidance on Exclusion from School—Draft for Consultation 24 January 2002 19 April 2002 
			 Consultation on Raising Standards—Training and Development for Leaders and Managers 4 February 2002 1 May 2002 
			 14–19: Extending Opportunities, Raising Standards 12 February 2002 31 May 2002 
			 National Centre for Excellence in Science Teaching 18 February 2002 8 May 2002 
			 The Adult Common Basic Data Set 25 February 2002 17 May 2002 
			 Early Years and Childcare Regulations 27 February 2002 24 May 2002 
			 14–19: Extending Opportunities, Raising Standards: A Summary 1 March 2002 31 May 2002 
			 Investors in Children Consultation Paper 14 March 2002 6 June 2002 
			 Proposals to introduce a mandatory requirement for first-time headteachers to hold the (NPQH) 15 March 2002 28 June 2002 
			 Consultation on Publication of School and College Performance Tables in 2002 19 March 2002 24 May 2002 
			 Electronic Communications in Education: an Order under the Electronic Communications Act 2000 8 May 2002 31 July 2002 
			 STRB report on teacher workload 8 May 2002 3 July 2002 
			 Performance Pay Progression: Reconsultation on Revised Special Grant Report 14 May 2002 13 June 2002 
			 Together From The Start—Practical guidance for professionals working with disabled children (birth to two) and their families 28 May 2002 23 September 2002 
			 Developing Early Intervention/Support Services for Deaf Children and their families 28 May 2002 23 September 2002 
			 Department for Education and Skills—Race Equality Scheme: Draft Consultation May 2002 31 May 2002 30 August 2002 
			 Supporting the cost of home-based childcare 7 June 2002 30 August 2002 
			 Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the Recognition of Professional Qualifications 1 July 2002 30 September 2002 
			 Investment to Support the Provision of New Pupil Places in Schools 5 August 2002 28 October 2002 
			 Consultation on the Constitution of School Governing Bodies 9 August 2002 29 November 2002 
			 Consultation on School Organisation Proposals by the Learning and Skills Council under the Education Act 2002 2 September 2002 29 November 2002 
			 Teachers Pension Scheme: Amendments to the Teachers' Pensions Regulations 1997 3 September 2002 1 November 2002 
			 Extending the National Curriculum for England to include the foundation stage 9 September 2002 1 November 2002 
			 Consultation on Revised School Admissions and Admission Appeals Codes of Practice and Accompanying Regulations 16 September 2002 11 October 2002 
			 Consultation on Acoustic Design of Schools 17 September 2002 10 December 2002 
			 Consultation on Developing the Role of School Support Staff 22 October 2002 22 January 2003 
			 Classification of Special Educational Needs 29 November 2002 6 March 2003 
			 Draft Order for the Foundation Stage Part of the National Curriculum 2 December 2002 16 January 2003 
			 Consultation on New Governing Body Procedures 9 December 2002 3 March 2003 
			 Draft Regulations for Consistent Financial Reporting 16 December 2002 31 January 2003 
			 Lottery Funding for Children's Play 16 December 2002 14 March 2003 
			 Consultation on Adventure Activities Licensing Scheme: Second Triennial Review 31 January 2003 30 April 2003 
			 Consultation on School Organisation, Planning and Decision Making 4 February 2003 11 April 2003

Departmental Projects

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will list the special units, task forces, and other permanent and temporary bodies appointed by the Secretary of State since 1997 to (a) administer and (b) advise on Departmental projects and functions; and if he will list the external appointees on these bodies, their annual remuneration and their declared political interest.

Stephen Twigg: A list of the special units, task forces, and other permanent and temporary bodies appointed by the Secretary of State that are currently in existence are shown in the following list:
	Advisory Group on Music and Dance Scheme
	Chief Education Officers Reference Group
	Connexions Service: Education Welfare Group
	Connexions Service: 14–19 Steering Group
	Dance and Drama Awards Annual Review Group
	Funders' Forum
	Investors in Children Development Group
	Literacy and Numeracy Reference Group
	Local Education Authority New Models External Reference Group
	MI Across Partners Working Group
	National Education Research Forum
	National Steering Group for SEN Regional Co-ordination Projects
	School Libraries Working Group
	The (School) Workforce Agreement Monitoring Group
	The additional information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, officials in the Department for Education and Skills will collect information on appointees and remuneration in the future.

Deprivation (Funding)

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what mechanism he has established to ensure that funding for deprivation via local education authorities reaches children for whom it is intended.

David Miliband: Local education authorities' funding formulae for maintained schools normally include a factor which allocates funding according to social deprivation. From 2003, the rules relating to this are being amended to ensure that such a factor always exists. The amount to be distributed is for local decision, but we are encouraging each authority to discuss this issue with its schools forum, with a view to aligning the amounts received by the LEA on the basis of social deprivation with the amounts distributed, and in ways which accurately reflect schools' needs.

Deprivation Indices

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will list the deprivation indices for shire counties.

David Miliband: The table lists for all counties the deprivation indicators used in the formula for Education Formula Spending Share. The indicators are: proportion of children for whom English is an additional language (EAL); proportion of children in low achieving ethnic groups; proportion of children of families in receipt of working families tax credit (WFTC); and proportion of children of low birth weight.
	
		
			  Primary EAL Secondary ethnicity WFTC Income support Low birth weight 
		
		
			 Bedfordshire 0.0596 0.0630 0.1248 0.1268 0.0693 
			 Buckinghamshire 0.0880 0.1335 0.1017 0.0930 0.0648 
			 Cambridgeshire 0.0295 0.0357 0.1367 0.1035 0.0614 
			 Cheshire 0.0093 0.0096 0.1720 0.1264 0.0620 
			 Cornwall 0.0040 0.0041 0.2894 0.1689 0.0636 
			 Cumbria 0.0049 0.0049 0.2075 0.1565 0.0656 
			 Derbyshire 0.0051 0.0074 0.2074 0.1491 0.0707 
			 Devon 0.0107 0.0065 0.2415 0.1329 0.0630 
			 Dorset 0.0064 0.0103 0.1857 0.1091 0.0653 
			 Durham 0.0072 0.0040 0.2474 0.2204 0.0770 
			 East Sussex 0.0173 0.0194 0.1731 0.1584 0.0659 
			 Essex 0.0159 0.0195 0.1336 0.1435 0.0631 
			 Gloucestershire 0.0186 0.0285 0.1693 0.1187 0.0655 
			 Hampshire 0.0123 0.0102 0.1393 0.1009 0.0642 
			 Hertfordshire 0.0497 0.0624 0.1087 0.1132 0.0648 
			 Kent 0.0243 0.0197 0.1549 0.1617 0.0651 
			 Lancashire 0.0679 0.0499 0.2424 0.1794 0.0776 
			 Leicestershire 0.0522 0.0399 0.1721 0.0918 0.0697 
			 Lincolnshire 0.0128 0.0092 0.2335 0.1399 0.0711 
			 Norfolk 0.0140 0.0095 0.2148 0.1578 0.0702 
			 North Yorkshire 0.0058 0.0101 0.1897 0.1011 0.0611 
			 Northamptonshire 0.0316 0.0470 0.1817 0.1396 0.0751 
			 Northumberland 0.0065 0.0064 0.2283 0.1622 0.0678 
			 Nottinghamshire 0.0153 0.0371 0.2179 0.1621 0.0735 
			 Oxfordshire 0.0525 0.0718 0.1201 0.1024 0.0634 
			 Shropshire 0.0066 0.0060 0.1946 0.1066 0.0604 
			 Somerset 0.0053 0.0096 0.2093 0.1214 0.0639 
			 Staffordshire 0.0189 0.0247 0.1962 0.1276 0.0739 
			 Suffolk 0.0106 0.0257 0.1792 0.1316 0.0689 
			 Surrey 0.0434 0.0372 0.0780 0.0814 0.0621 
			 Warwickshire 0.0377 0.0159 0.1636 0.1170 0.0692 
			 West Sussex 0.0341 0.0267 0.1424 0.1129 0.0669 
			 Wiltshire 0.0088 0.0145 0.1620 0.0954 0.0640 
			 Worcestershire 0.0209 0.0244 0.1880 0.1210 0.0717

Education/Commerce Links

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what initiatives are being undertaken by his Department to develop links between higher education colleges and commerce; and if he will make a statement.

Margaret Hodge: In order to improve our economic competitiveness, we need to create effective and sustained links between higher education institutions and business. The task for Government is to provide the framework for this to happen and for universities and higher education colleges, businesses and individuals to develop these opportunities. As set out in the recent White Paper, 'The future of higher education' the Government are taking a number of steps to build constructive links between higher education institutions and business.
	The effective transfer of knowledge and skills is key to our future success. Through recent initiatives we have already helped institutions to improve knowledge transfer, and this has been shown in indicators such as the number of spin-off companies created, the number of patents filed and the proportion of universities employing specialised staff to support commercial work. We announced in "Investing in Innovation", the Government's strategy for science, engineering and technology, published in July 2002 that the Higher Education Innovation Fund (HEIF) would draw together support for reach out from HE to business and become a permanent third stream of funding worth £90 million a year in 2005–06. As announced in 'the future of higher education' we are providing additional HEIF funding to establish a network of up to 20 Knowledge Exchanges. These will exemplify collaboration with employers, be focused on serving the local and regional economy and form part of a wider network with the New Technology Institutes that will help local companies to use advanced technology.
	The Foundation Degree which was introduced in 2001 gave employers a greater role in shaping vocational courses to meet their need for associate professional skills. A major expansion of this work focused degree announced in the HE strategy will further encourage partnership arrangements between employers and higher education institutions in course design, development and implementation. The emergence of new Sector Skills Councils will enable stronger alliances to develop between business in their sectors and the relevant departments in higher education institutions both to develop and market courses and involve employers in the delivery of learning.
	However, we also need to ensure that all graduates have the skills to equip them to work in a fast changing work environment. We will continue to sponsor work already under way by HEFCE to integrate the skills and attributes which employers need, into higher education courses.
	The Government have commissioned Richard Lambert to carry out an independent review of how, over the coming decade, business can better draw on universities to the mutual advantage of both sectors. We look forward to the findings of the review later this year.

Education Maintenance Allowance

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills which local education authorities are piloting the education maintenance allowance scheme.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 7 February 2003
	The Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) scheme is currently being piloted in 56 local education authorities, covering approximately one third of the country. These pilot areas are:
	Barking and Dagenham
	Barnsley
	Birmingham
	Bolton
	Bradford
	Brent
	Camden
	Cornwall
	Coventry
	Doncaster
	Ealing
	East Lancashire 1
	Gateshead
	Greenwich
	Hackney
	Halton
	Hammersmith and Fulham
	Haringey
	Hartlepool
	Islington
	Kingston upon Hull
	Knowsley
	Lambeth
	Leeds
	Leicester City
	Lewisham
	Liverpool
	Luton
	Manchester
	Middlesbrough
	Newham
	North East Lincolnshire
	North Tyneside
	Northumberland
	Nottingham
	Oldham
	Salford
	Sandwell
	Sheffield
	South Tyneside
	Southampton
	Southwark
	St. Helens
	Stoke on Trent
	Suffolk
	Sunderland
	Tameside
	Tower Hamlets
	Wakefield
	Walsall
	Waltham Forest
	Wandsworth
	Wigan
	Wirral
	Wolverhampton
	Worcestershire
	1 Only covers part of the LEA area

Education Maintenance Allowance

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of education maintenance allowances is channelled through local education authorities.

Margaret Hodge: Under the current pilot scheme 100 per cent. of Education Maintenance Allowance is channelled through local education authorities.

Examination Marking

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on the (a) criterion-referenced examination marking procedure and (b) norm-referenced examination marking procedure.

David Miliband: Mike Tomlinson's final report on the inquiry into A level standards found strong support for criterion referenced assessment. The most important thing for any system of examination and assessment is that it produces consistent and accurate grading over time.

Foreign Students

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate he has made of the number of non-UK, EU resident students who will apply to English universities in (a) 2006, (b) 2007, (c) 2008, (d) 2009 and (e) 2010.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 11 February 2003
	Projections of applicants to English universities are not available centrally. The Department does, however, project the number of students, EU resident or otherwise, that attend English universities.
	The projected number of non-UK, EU resident students attending English institutions from 2003–04 to 2005–06 is shown in the table. These are not very reliable figures because they are based on a number of assumptions, so should be treated with caution. Detailed projections for later years are not available.
	
		Non-UK, EU resident students attending English universities -- Thousand
		
			  EU students 
		
		
			 2003–04 71 
			 2004–05 74 
			 2005–06 77 
		
	
	(36) Numbers are on a headcount basis and include full and part-time students on undergraduate and postgraduate courses.
	Source:
	DfES student numbers projection model.

Further and Higher Education Colleges

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will list the colleges of further and higher education in England and Wales indicating the (a) capacity limit figures for each college and (b) actual numbers of (i) full-time and (ii) part-time students for each academic year since 1997–98.

Margaret Hodge: The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) does not collect capacity information in this form.
	The LSC publication 'Summary Statistics' available on the LSC website (http://www.lscdata.gov.uk/data/summarystatistics.html) provides student numbers in further education colleges in England for the most recent year 1999–2000. Prior to the LSC, the Further Education Funding Council (FEFC) published 'Performance Indicators' which provides student numbers in further education colleges in England for the years 1997–98 and 1998–99, this information is also available on the LSC website (http://www.lscdata.gov.uk/data/performanceindicators.html).

Further Education Colleges

Stephen Hesford: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans he has to increase the quality of tuition in further education colleges.

Margaret Hodge: A new Standards Unit within DfES was established in January 2003 to drive the Government's strategy for reforming further education and training—'Success for AH'. The Unit will identify, develop and disseminate good practice to improve teaching standards in priority curriculum areas and develop associated teacher training and support. The Unit will also improve standards of teaching and learning and will improve further education teacher training, recruitment and retention and establish a new leadership college for the sector.

Further Education Colleges

Stephen Hesford: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans he has to improve (a) teaching standards and (b) results in further education colleges.

Margaret Hodge: Our comprehensive invest and reform strategy for further education and training "Success for All" was published on 19 November. "Success for All" will dramatically improve teaching standards and results in colleges.
	We will invest an additional £1.2 billion in colleges over the next three years. The Learning and Skills Council will undertake Strategic Area Reviews to improve the effectiveness of the network of post-16 provision and will introduce three year funding agreements for colleges based on tough new results targets.
	A new Standards Unit within the Department for Education and Skills was set up in January 2003. The Standards Unit will improve standards of teaching and learning and will improve further education teacher training, recruitment and retention and establish a new Leadership College for the sector.

Government Offices for the Regions

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what funds his Department has allocated to the Government Offices for the Regions in (a) 2003–04, (b) 2004–05 and (c) 2005–06, (i) in cash terms and (ii) on a full resource budgeting basis.

Charles Clarke: In 2003–04 my Department has allocated £16.8 million to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister towards the funding of Government Offices. For 2004–05 and 2005–06 the funding for Government Offices is included in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's 2002 Spending Review settlement.
	I have also agreed to provide an additional £1.4 million in 2003–04, £1.5 million in 2004–05, and £1.7 million in 2005–06 from my Department's 2002 Spending Review settlement, towards the central costs of the Regional Coordination Unit and Government Offices.
	These figures are on a resource accounting basis; budgets are no longer allocated on a cash basis.

Graduate Debt

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what measures he is taking to reduce the burden of debt on graduates.

Margaret Hodge: The Government will continue to meet the costs of fees up to £1,100 for those students whose family income falls below £20,000, and a proportion of that for those whose family income is between £20,000 and £30,000. In addition, from 2004, we are introducing new grants of £1,000 a year, which we intend to go in full to around 30 per cent. of students.
	From 2006, under the new Graduate Contribution Scheme, no student or parent will have to pay any fees up-front: students will make repayments after they graduate, and only once they are earning above a certain level. Moreover, from 2005 we are raising the repayment threshold from £10,000 to £15,000. That means that the burden of repayments will be eased, by £450 a year. Graduates will have the option of making extra payments, if they wish to pay off their debt more quickly.

Graduate Earnings

George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate he has made of the average gross earnings per year of students (a) immediately following graduation, (b) five years after graduation, (c) 10 years after graduation, (d) 20 years after graduation and (e) 25 years after graduation for each university and higher education institution.

Margaret Hodge: Information on annual graduate earnings over a lifetime is not available in the requested format, and estimated lifetime profiles at particular points in time are constrained by limitations of existing datasets.
	Annual earnings by age are estimated using gross weekly earnings from the Labour Force Survey (LFS). Estimating annual from weekly earnings is not ideal but the LFS allows us to provide the best available estimate of annual earnings by qualification. Earnings at particular ages are the best proxy we have of what young graduates might earn after various periods in the labour market, assuming that labour market conditions remain stable over time. The estimates should therefore be treated with caution. The table shows the estimated annual average earnings of graduates at various ages. The figures relate to graduates whose highest qualification is a first degree.
	
		Table 1: Estimated annual average earnings of first degree graduates by age band
		
			 Age band Estimated annual earnings (£)  
		
		
			 21–24 18,200 
			 25–29 24,440 
			 30–39 33,280 
			 40–49 36,400 
			 50–59 34,320 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Estimates are based on gross weekly earnings in main job, for graduates who are in full-time employment.
	2. Annual earnings are derived by multiplying weekly earnings, rounded to the nearest £10, by 52 weeks, and may therefore be upwardly biased.
	3. A few individuals who graduated at the age of 20 will be included in the 21–24 age band.
	Source:
	Labour Force Survey, spring 2002, GB

Graduate Earnings

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the relative distribution of the earnings of graduates is, broken down into multiples of £5,000.

Margaret Hodge: The information is not available directly in the requested format so has been estimated from available data. Annual earnings are estimated using gross weekly earnings from the Labour Force Survey (LFS). Estimating annual from weekly earnings is not ideal but the LFS allows us to provide the best available estimate of annual earnings by qualification. The derived distribution of annual earnings should therefore be treated with caution. The table shows the distribution of estimated annual earnings for all individuals whose highest qualification is a first-degree.
	
		Table 1 Estimated distribution of annual earnings of first degree graduates
		
			 Estimated annual earnings (£) Percentage of graduates 
		
		
			 Up to 9,999 2.3 
			 10,000–14,999 9.9 
			 15,000–19,999 18.6 
			 20,000–24,999 17.7 
			 25,000–29,999 14.4 
			 30,000–34,999 10.8 
			 35,000–39,999 7.4 
			 40,000–44,999 6.0 
			 45,000–49,999 3.8 
			 50,000–54,999 1.9 
			 55,000+ 7.1 
			 Total 100.0 
		
	
	Note:
	Estimates are based on gross weekly earnings in main job, for graduates who are in full-time
	The figures are derived from the distribution of weekly equivalent earnings associated with the annual earnings bands, on the assumption that individuals work 52 weeks per year.
	Source:
	Labour Force Survey, Spring 2002, GB

Greater London Assembly

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what financial assistance his Department gave to the Greater London Assembly in 2002; and for what projects.

Charles Clarke: No financial assistance was given directly to the London Assembly by central government departments in 2002–03.
	The London Assembly is part of the Greater London Authority. It is responsible for scrutinising and reviewing the Mayor's exercise of his statutory functions. It has particular power to investigate, and prepare reports on actions and decisions taken by the Mayor or any member of the Greater London Authority. The London Assembly's specific costs are part of the overall Greater London Authority budget which is proposed each year by the mayor and is subject to the Assembly's agreement.
	The GLA grants from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister in 2002/03 as reported on the RA02 form are as follows:
	Revenue Support Grant £659.641 million
	Redistributed Non-Domestic Rate £267.654 million
	General GLA Grant £27.950 million

Health and Safety

Helen Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills which senior officials within his Department and its agencies take responsibility for health and safety at board or equivalent level; and where their names are publicised.

Stephen Twigg: My Department is currently preparing a revised and updated Departmental policy which will incorporate all the best practice recommendations for procedures from the Revitalising H&S initiative. This will be formally offered to our Permanent Secretary for endorsement in the next few weeks. Similarly to many other Departments, this will propose that our Permanent Secretary continues to take overall responsibility for H&S in DfES. At Board level, it will further propose that the Director General for Corporate Services and Development takes specific responsibility for implementation of the Departmental policy and briefing Board colleagues on developments.

Higher Education

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on his plans to raise the proportion of young people in higher education to 50 per cent.; and by when he estimates this target will have been achieved.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 29 January 2003
	Our long-term vision for strengthening universities and increasing access to higher education was recently announced in our White Paper, "The Future of Higher Education".
	The case for expanding higher education is strong, both to meet the economy's need for higher level skills and to realise the potential of individuals. The measures set out in the White Paper will enable us to deliver our Public Service Agreement target of increasing participation in higher education towards 50 per cent. of those aged 18 to 30 by 2010. This will be mainly achieved through expansion of the work focused foundation degree, which is designed to attract many people who do not currently enter higher education.
	Progress towards the participation rate is measured by the Initial Entry Rate which sums the percentage of the age group who enter higher education for the first time in each year of age between 18 and 30. Participation is currently 43 per cent.
	Our programmes to raise achievement levels in schools and to improve studying on rates in full-time education has and the age of 16 coupled with our programmes to encourage ambition and higher aspirations among more young people will contribute towards meeting our target.

Higher Education

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment he has made of the impact of the Government's proposals for higher education on (a) women, (b) ethnic minorities, (c) single parents, (d) mature students and (e) under-represented groups.

Margaret Hodge: All the policies set out in the White Paper "The Future of Higher Education" were given careful consideration to ensure that they would create the best higher education system possible, while ensuring equality of opportunity for all groups within society.
	We will of course continue to consider the potential impact on the groups that the hon. Gentleman mentioned as we plan the detailed implementation of these policies, and in the light of responses received during the period for comment on the White Paper proposals, which runs until 30 April.

Higher Education

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the Government's expenditure plans are for higher education in (a) 2002–03, (b) 2003–04, (c) 2004–05 and (d) 2005–06, (i) in cash terms and (ii) on a full resource budgeting basis.

Margaret Hodge: The Government's expenditure plans for higher education in England are shown in the table.
	
		
			  £ million 
		
		
			 2002–03 7,596 
			 2003–04 8,309 
			 2004–05 9,057 
			 2005–06 9,918 
		
	
	These figures are taken from the table on page 19 of the White Paper, "The Future of Higher Education" (Cm 5735), and include estimates of funding from the Office of Science and Technology.
	The amount of cash that the Department will require to support this resource expenditure is set on a year-by-year basis. The main differences between the resource-based figures above and the in-year cash requirement will relate to the cost of capital and depreciation charges on the administrative capital of the Student Loans Company and the Higher Education Funding Council for England, and to the treatment of student loans. Under resource accounting and budgeting, the costs of issuing such loans takes account of the economic value of all future loan repayments, whereas the cash total will be the payments issued in year (which in 2002–03 amounted to just over £2 billion) without any reflection of the repayments to be received in the future.

Higher Education

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on the differences between the Summary of the Spending Review Settlement for Higher Education Funding grand total, as announced in the Higher Education White Paper (Command Paper 5735, p19), and total 'publicly planned funding for higher education in England' as stated in his letter to HEFCE detailing Higher Education funding and delivery to 2005–06, dated 22 January 2003.

Margaret Hodge: The table on page 19 of the White Paper 'The Future of Higher Education' shows the total expenditure on higher education in England. The total publicly planned funding shown in the grant letter to the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) is the expenditure that is paid by the HEFCE to higher education institutions in England and the estimated fee income for home and EU students that those institutions will receive from public and private sources. The main differences between the two totals relate to student support expenditure; funding for research and knowledge transfer from the Office of Science and Technology, estimates of which are included in the totals in the White Paper; and the private contributions towards the costs of tuition which are included in the publicly planned funding total but not in the expenditure table in the White Paper.

Higher Education

Anne Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what research he has conducted on the proportion of appropriately qualified students who proceed to higher education by social class; and if he will place the results in the Library.

Margaret Hodge: The Youth Cohort Study (YCS) shows that young people from higher socio-economic groups (SEGs) are twice as likely as those from lower SEGs to enter HE at 18. Participation rates of higher and lower SEGs are not significantly different after A-level attainment is taken into account (see following table).
	
		Percentage
		
			  Participation rates in higher educationat 18 
			  Higher SEGs Lower SEGs 
		
		
			 A-level point score   
			 1–12 36 32 
			 13–24 63 60 
			 25+ 74 76 
			 All 35 15 
		
	
	Source:
	Youth Cohort Survey—cohort 9 2000
	Attainment at A-level is affected by people's aspirations. Aspirations are often formed at a young age and are shaped by a range of cultural, social, institutional and education influences.
	In 2001 the Department published "Social Class and Higher Education: Issues Affecting Participation by Lower Social Class groups" by Connor, H. and Dewson, S. with Tyers, C. Eccles, J. Regan, J. and Aston, J. (DfEE Research Report No. 246). This found that for a small sample of qualified non-entrants from lower social classes the main reasons for not entering HE were:
	they wanted to get a job and earn some money;
	cost issues;
	they wanted to take a break from studying; and
	uncertainties about their ability or commitment to complete a degree course.
	In 2002 the Department published "Potential mature student recruitment to HE" by Ross, A. Archer, L. Hutchings, M. Gilchrist, and R. Thomson, D. with John, C. and Akantziliotou, K. (DfES Research Report 385). This found that, among a sample of 16–30 year olds from lower middle and working class backgrounds the propensity to enter HE depends upon qualifications, but is independent of their social class.
	Both of the above reports are held on the Department's research publications website, www.dfes.gov.uk/research.
	It is important to note that people without A-levels or other formal qualifications may be appropriately qualified to enter higher education on the basis of other experience and abilities that they demonstrate.

Higher Education (Hampshire)

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the rate of participation in higher education of young people in Hampshire was by social class in each year between 1996 and 2002.

Margaret Hodge: The requested participation rates by social class are not available.
	The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) can provide numbers of young people by social class from Hampshire accepted to full-time undergraduate courses. However, the corresponding Hampshire population breakdowns are not available and participation rates by social class cannot be calculated without them.

Higher Education (Student Costs)

George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will list the average cost per student place in higher education for each university and higher education institution for (a) undergraduate students and (b) post-graduate students in each year since 1980.

Margaret Hodge: The information requested is not held centrally. The Government allocates funding for higher education in England to the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE). The HEFCE provide teaching grants on the basis that similar courses are funded at similar rates irrespective of the institution providing the education. The detailed allocations are calculated according to the numbers and types of students in the institutions, and the courses they are taking. Different courses are weighted at different levels to reflect, for example, the higher costs of providing laboratory-based and medical courses. There are also adjustments made to the calculations to reflect London weighting, the additional costs of teaching students from disadvantaged backgrounds and mature and part-time students. Average funding per student in institutions will therefore reflect these weightings and adjustments.
	Funding for post-graduate research students is also provided through the HEFCE's research funding allocation. The Council allocate funding for research selectively to institutions according to their relative strength in research as measured through the periodic Research Assessment Exercise. The amount of research funding therefore varies widely between institutions.
	Institutions receive their teaching and research funding as a block grant and are able to decide how it should be spent.

Hull University

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of students at Hull University he estimates will be eligible for maintenance grant under "The Future of Higher Education White Paper."

Margaret Hodge: The information requested is not available.
	We have not made estimates of the proportion of students who will be eligible for the higher education grant at individual universities. That proportion will depend on the background of applicants to each university. Our intention is that nationally around 30 per cent. of students will benefit from the full grant.

Judicial Review

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills which decisions by his Department were challenged by judicial review in each session since 1997; and in how many cases the (a) Department's decision was upheld by the court, (b) court found for the applicant, (c) Department submitted to the judgment and (d) Department appealed successfully against the decision.

Charles Clarke: The information requested is contained in a table, copies of which have been placed in the Libraries.

Key Stage 3

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  how many schools in Key Stage 3 pilot local authorities administered the new Year 7 progress tests in English and mathematics that were trialled in 2002;
	(2)  what percentage of Year 7 pupils who had achieved level 3 at Key Stage 2 in 2001 achieved level 4 or above in the English and mathematics Year 7 progress tests that were trialled in 2002;
	(3)  how many pupils took the new Year 7 progress tests in (a) English and (b) mathematics that were trialled in 2002;
	(4)  what was the cost of (a) developing, (b) printing and distributing and (c) marking the Year 7 progress tests in English and mathematics that were trialled in 2002.

David Miliband: There were 58 schools in Key Stage 3 pilot local authorities who administered the new Year 7 progress tests in English and mathematics that were trialled in 2002.
	Level thresholds are not set at this stage of test development. Schools who took part in the trial have only been given an indication of the levels achieved by their pupils. The final level thresholds will not be set for the new progress tests until August 2003.
	The trial of the 2003 tests that took place in 2002 was based on 52 schools for mathematics producing an entry of approximately 2400 pupils and 44 schools in English producing an entry of approximately 2100 pupils.
	The overall cost of the 2002 trial of the 2003 year 7 progress tests was 21600. These costs include:
	Project Management costs of £8950
	Printing Costs of £2500
	Packaging and distribution costs of 2750
	Marking costs of £7400
	Development costs are not included as the tests trialled in 2002 did not have a separate or discrete development that can be costed. The costs are therefore part of the overall development costs for the 2003 Year 7 progress tests.

Key Stage 3

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of pupils attained (a) Level 5 and above and (b) Level 6 and above in Key Stage 3 Science in each year from 1999–2001.

David Miliband: The percentage of pupils who achieved (a) level 5 or above and (b) level 6 or above in Key Stage 3 science in each year from 1999–2001 is shown in the table.
	
		Pupil achievement in Key Stage 3 science -- Percentage
		
			  Key Stage 3 science test Key Stage 3 scienceteacher assessment 
			  (a) Level 5 or above (b) Level 6 or above (a) Level 5 or above (b) Level 6 or above 
		
		
			 1999 55 24 60 29 
			 2000 59 29 62 30 
			 2001 66 34 64 32 
		
	
	Note:
	Figures cover all schools in England.

Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts

Louise Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what recent assessment he has made of the work of the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts.

Margaret Hodge: The Secretary of State has made no assessment of the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts, which is not designated to receive funding directly from the Higher Education Funding Council for England. However, the Institute is exploring whether it can be so designated. To this end the Funding Council and the Quality Assurance Agency are working with the Institute to assess its progress towards meeting the criteria for direct funding.

Ministerial Travel

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many times since 2001 he has taken flights on departmental duties in the UK; how many of these were (a) charter flights, (b) first or club class and (c) by helicopter; and who accompanied him on each trip.

Charles Clarke: I have taken one flight to Manchester, one flight to Norwich and a flight to Glasgow; all of these were commercial flights. I was accompanied on the flights to Manchester and Glasgow by one official. My predecessor Estelle Morris did not take any flights in the UK.
	All travel is undertaken in accordance with the rules set out in the Ministerial Code and Travel by Ministers which are available in the Libraries of the House.

National Curriculum (Support Staff)

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on the effectiveness of support staff in National Curriculum teaching.

David Miliband: The Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted) published an evaluation report in April 2002 on the quality and impact of the work of teaching assistants in primary schools. The report reinforced the Government's view that well-trained and well-managed teaching assistants have the potential to help schools raise standards by showing that the quality of teaching in lessons with teaching assistants is better than in lessons without them.
	In a survey of headteachers (July 2002) relating to the implementation of the National Literacy and Numeracy Strategies, 89 per cent. said that teaching assistants made a positive contribution to the quality of literacy teaching and the same percentage said that teaching assistants contributed to improving the teaching of mathematics.

OECD PISA Survey

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on the position in which the United Kingdom came in the OECD PISA 2001 survey in mathematics.

Charles Clarke: The performance of young people from the United Kingdom in the OECD Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2000, published in December 2001, was encouraging. Out of the 32 countries participating in the study, the United Kingdom came eighth on the mathematical literacy scale and was only significantly outperformed by Japan and Korea.

Pre-School Provision

Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will list for each year since 1997 the percentage of rural parishes with (a) no nursery, (b) no parent and toddler group and (c) no pre-school play group.

Maria Eagle: The information is not available in the form requested.
	Figures on Day Care Facilities in England were published by the DfES in Statistical Bulletin 08/01 "Children's Day Care facilities at 31 March 2001" in October 2001, a copy of which is available from the Library. An electronic copy of this publication is also available on the DfES' web-site: http://www.dfes.gov.uk/statistics
	Statistics were collected at top-tier local authority level, not split between urban and rural areas. Local authorities are responsible for ensuring full coverage of both urban and rural areas within their areas.
	£22 million has been allocated for a pilot project to develop 50 Mini Sure Start local programmes in areas with pockets of deprivation either in rural areas or in towns and cities that have small numbers of families living in poverty. Managed through local authorities, these Mini Sure Start local programmes are building on new Neighbourhood Nurseries and existing childcare facilities to deliver outreach, family support and additional health services. Of the 50 Mini Sure Start pilots, 29 are in rural areas.

Pupil Funding

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the funding per pupil was for (a) primary, (b) infant, (c) junior and (d) secondary schools in (i) the London borough of Havering, (ii) other London boroughs and (iii) other local education authorities in England in (A) 2001–02 and (B) 2002–03; and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: The available information is contained in the following table. The Government does not fund pupils in primary, infant and junior schools separately.
	
		Recurrent unit funding—Total funding (£ per pupil)
		
			  Pupils aged 5 to 10 Pupils aged 11 to 15 
			  Total 2001–02 Total 2002–03 Total 2001–02 Total 2002–03 
		
		
			 Havering 3,000 3,180 3,660 3,860 
			  
			 London 
			 Barking and Dagenham 3,420 3,670 4,260 4,520 
			 Barnet 3,230 3,440 3,870 4,110 
			 Bexley 3,040 3,230 3,680 3,870 
			 Brent 3,690 3,950 4,600 4,900 
			 Bromley 3,050 3,220 3,630 3,820 
			 Camden 4,450 4,770 5,080 5,370 
			 City of London 4,050 4,600 46,730 17,190 
			 Croydon 3,250 3,460 4,100 4,330 
			 Ealing 3,530 3,710 4,420 4,620 
			 Enfield 3,380 3,630 4,050 4,330 
			 Greenwich 4,110 4,340 5,010 5,260 
			 Hackney 4,430 4,750 5,770 6,140 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 4,340 4,750 5,180 5,550 
			 Haringey 3,950 4,220 4,950 5,210 
			 Harrow 3,110 3,330. 3,890 4,120 
			 Hillingdon 3,140 3,350 3,840 4,080 
			 Hounslow 3,450 3,750 4,100 4,370 
			 Islington 4,430 4,680 5,640 5,950 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 4,420 4,940 5,180 5,770 
			 Kingston upon Thames 3,110 3,290 3,680 3,890 
			 Lambeth 4,390 4,700 6,010 6,410 
			 Lewisham 4,170 4,440 5,210 5,590 
			 Merton 3,320 3,460 4,000 4,160 
			 Newham 3,960 4,180 4,840 5,060 
			 Redbridge 3,210 3,390 3,920 4,120 
			 Richmond upon Thames 2,990 3,140 3,580 3,790 
			 Southwark 4,270 4,570 5,410 5,760 
			 Sutton 3,080 3,260 3,620 3,810 
			 Tower Hamlets 4,640 4,990 5,630 6,020 
			 Waltham Forest 3,660 3,880 4,500 4,760 
			 Wandsworth 3,980 4,160 4,840 5,050 
			 Westminster 4,210 4,600 4,760 5,110 
			 Metropolitan 
			 Barnsley 2,960 3,140 3,570 3,770 
			 Birmingham 3,320 3,490 4,040 4,230 
			 Bolton 2,920 3,100 3,470 3,680 
			 Bradford 3,240 3,370 3,890 4,050 
			 Bury 2,810 2,980 3,320 3,510 
			 Calderdale 2,950 3,120 3,520 3,700 
			 Coventry 3,030 3,200 3,640 3,810 
			 Doncaster 3,000 3,190 3,620 3,810 
			 Dudley 2,720 2,900 3,300 3,490 
			 Gateshead 3,100 3,260 3,720 3,890 
			 Kirklees 2,970 3,140 3,580 3,760 
			 Knowsley 3,550 3,730 4,350 4,560 
			 Leeds 3,040 3,230 3,600 3,800 
			 Liverpool 3,500 3,700 4,160 4,370 
			 Manchester 3,610 3,810 4,390 4,620 
			 Newcastle upon Tyne 3,280 3,450 3,920 4,110 
			 North Tyneside 2,940 3,140 3,590 3,790 
			 Oldham 3,010 3,270 3,570 3,830 
			 Rochdale 3,070 3,320 3,680 3,920 
			 Rotherham 3,080 3,230 3,560 3,710 
			 Salford 3,260 3,410 3,920 4,090 
			 Sandwell 3,080 3,290 3,720 3,950 
			 Sefton 2,990 3,180 3,520 3,700 
			 Sheffield 3,100 3,280 3,700 3,890 
			 Solihull 2,770 2,920 3,260 3,420 
			 South Tyneside 3,190 3,350 3,740 3,910 
			 St Helens 3,010 3,180 3,610 3,790 
			 Stockport 2,760 2,910 3,320 3,460 
			 Sunderland 3,060 3,230 3,650 3,840 
			 Tameside 2,920 3,090 3,470 3,640 
			 Trafford 2,860 2,980 3,410 3,540 
			 Wakefield 2,870 3,030 3,410 3,570 
			 Walsall 2,940 3,110 3,500 3,680 
			 Wigan 2,850 2,990 3,350 3,510 
			 Wirral 3,070 3,270 3,690 3,880 
			 Wolverhampton 3,100 3,380 3,760 4,040 
			 Unitaries 
			 Bath and North East 2,760 2,890 3,220 3,360 
			 Somerset — — — — 
			 Blackburn 3,230 3,400 3,820 4,040 
			 Blackpool 2,900 3,110 3,570 3,770 
			 Bournemouth 2,840 2,980 3,400 3,560 
			 Bracknell Forest 2,910 3,100 3,620 3,820 
			 Brighton and Hove 3,140 3,300 3,770 3,960 
			 City of Bristol 3,000 3,200 3,690 3,930 
			 City of Kingston-upon-Hull 3,150 3,340 3,800 4,000 
			 Darlington 2,930 3,070 3,530 3,680 
			 Derby 2,970 3,170 3,580 3,790 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire 2,820 2,960 3,340 3,500 
			 Halton 3,160 3,340 3,760 3,980 
			 Hartlepool 3,050 3,230 3,650 3,840 
			 Herefordshire 2,900 3,080 3,510 3,690 
			 Isle of Wight Council 3,070 3,250 3,840 4,030 
			 Leicester 3,170 3,400 3,830 4,060 
			 Luton 3,150 3,390 3,840 4,100 
			 Medway 2,930 3,100 3,570 3,750 
			 Middlesbrough 3,250 3,460 3,990 4,240 
			 Milton Keynes 2,990 3,200 3,630 3,860 
			 North East Lincolnshire 3,010 3,180 3,600 3,770 
			 North Lincolnshire 2,930 3,070 3,510 3,670 
			 North Somerset 2,770 2,930 3,320 3,480 
			 Nottingham City 3,290 3,530 4,080 4,350 
			 Peterborough 2,970 3,170 3,590 3,820 
			 Plymouth 2,900 3,070 3,450 3,630 
			 Poole 2,690 2,840 3,260 3,420 
			 Portsmouth 3,050 3,230 3,680 3,880 
			 Reading 3,060 3,320 3,870 4,150 
			 Redcar and Cleveland 3,110 3,280 3,640 3,820 
			 Rutland 2,900 3,060 3,240 3,380 
			 Slough 3,450 3,730 4,360 4,660 
			 South Gloucestershire 2,660 2,780 3,210 3,370 
			 Southampton 3,070 3,230 3,770 3,950 
			 Southend 3,060 3,230 3,690 3,870 
			 Stockton-on-Tees 3,100 3,290 3,660 3,850 
			 Stoke on Trent 3,050 3,280 3,630 3,840 
			 Swindon 2,760 2,910 3,330 3,500 
			 The Wrekin 2,960 3,080 3,570 3,720 
			 Thurrock 3,100 3,320 3,840 4,070 
			 Torbay 2,880 3,020 3,460 3,620 
			 Warrington 2,730 2,870 3,270 3,430 
			 West Berkshire 2,910 3,060 3,420 3,590 
			 Windsor and Maidenhead 3,000 3,180 3,560 3,750 
			 Wokingham 2,710 2,860 3,290 3,460 
			 York 2,800 2,920 3,370 3,520 
			 Upper Tier 
			 Bedfordshire 2,930 3,100 3,620 3,810 
			 Buckinghamshire 2,930 3,120 3,550 3,740 
			 Cambridgeshire 2,790 2,940 3,350 3,520 
			 Cheshire 2,760 2,900 3,290 3,440 
			 Cornwall 2,920 3,080 3,480 3,650 
			 Cumbria 2,930 3,090 3,500 3,670 
			 Derbyshire 2,800 2,960 3,340 3,510 
			 Devon 2,840 3,000 3,420 3,580 
			 Dorset 2,780 2,930 3,340 3,500 
			 Durham 3,050 3,180 3,610 3,770 
			 East Sussex 2,990 3,150 3,630 3,830 
			 Essex 2,960 3,130 3,580 3,760 
			 Gloucestershire 2,810 2,950 3,350 3,500 
			 Hampshire 2,810 2,970 3,430 3,610 
			 Hertfordshire 2,990 3,150 3,620 3,800 
			 Isles of Scilly 5,700 7,410 6,720 8,550 
			 Kent 2,950 3,120 3,610 3,790 
			 Lancashire 2,890 3,050 3,470 3,640 
			 Leicestershire 2,660 2,800 3,250 3,390 
			 Lincolnshire 2,870 3,050 3,470 3,640 
			 Norfolk 2,940 3,120 3,490 3,660 
			 North Yorkshire 2,880 3,040 3,400 3,570 
			 Northamptonshire 2,790 2,940 3,400 3,560 
			 Northumberland 2,920 3,050 3,600 3,750 
			 Nottinghamshire 2,790 2,940 3,340 3,500 
			 Oxfordshire 2,900 3,080 3,540 3,730 
			 Shropshire 2,830 3,000 3,380 3,550 
			 Somerset 2,810 2,970 3,410 3,570 
			 Staffordshire 2,710 2,860 3,290 3,440 
			 Suffolk 2,760 2,920 3,410 3,580 
			 Surrey 2,920 3,080 3,550 3,740 
			 Warwickshire 2,770 2,930 3,310 3,480 
			 West Sussex 2,850 3,030 3,460 3,640 
			 Wiltshire 2,780 2,930 3,380 3,530 
			 Worcestershire 2,740 2,890 3,350 3,500

Pupil Mobility Grant

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when he will introduce a targeted local government grant for pupil mobility.

David Miliband: When we were developing the new LEA funding formula, we looked at whether we should introduce a targeted grant for LEAs with high mobility. However, we found that the problem was surprisingly widespread and it did not therefore seem sensible to introduce a targeted grant which would give a little funding to many authorities. We intend to look further at the question of pupil mobility in the light of data from the Pupil Level Annual Schools Census, with the aim of considering the possible introduction of a relevant factor when the formula freeze on Education Formula Spending ends in 2006–07.

Pupil:Teacher Ratios

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (a) how many pupils there were on school rolls and (b) what the pupil-teacher ratio was in (i) primary and (ii) secondary schools in each local authority area in England and Wales in each academic year from 1997–98.

David Miliband: The information requested has been placed in the House of Commons library.
	For information on Wales I refer the hon. Gentleman to the Welsh Assembly.

School Playing Fields

John Greenway: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many school playing fields disposals have (a) satisfied and (b) have not satisfied the criterion of a net gain for sport.

David Miliband: Applications to dispose of school playing fields are assessed against three main criteria. These are:
	(i) schools' needs: that playing field provision and curriculum requirements at the school making the disposal, and at other schools in the local area, will be met;
	(ii) community needs: that community use of school playing fields is taken into account, with alternative facilities made available if necessary; and
	(iii) finance: that any sale proceeds are re-invested to provide new or improved sports facilities at schools, or are used otherwise to help raise standards by providing better educational facilities.
	The criteria are set out in the Department's Guidance 0580/2001: The Protection of School Playing Fields and Land for City Academies. The School Playing Fields Advisory Panel provides independent advice on the extent to which applications meet the published criteria. Over the past four years the Secretary of State has approved 118 applications to dispose, or change the use, of an area of school playing field larger than a sports pitch (i.e. 2,000 m 2 ). Of these, 48 were in respect of closed or closing schools and, of the remainder, 45 helped fund improved sports facilities at schools. No application has been approved that did not fully meet all of the criteria.

School Safety

John Burnett: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what improvements have taken place within the system of safety inspections of schools since Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools' statement in December 2001.

David Miliband: School inspectors are required to consider whether the school monitors health and safety and are expected to report on any hazards that they encounter. They are not, however, health and safety inspectors and do not audit possible health hazards such as the presence of asbestos. The responsibility rests with the head and governing body, and (for community and voluntary controlled schools) the local education authority. While it is impracticable for school inspectors to conduct rigorous health and safety inspections, they are required in every inspection to make a judgment about the extent to which pupils work in a healthy and safe environment.

School Staff

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  how many local authorities have exempted schools from the job evaluation schemes linked to the recent single status agreement for local government staff;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the number of schools who use the form of employment contract recommended by the local education authority for the employment of teaching assistants;
	(3)  what estimate he has made of the number of (a) men and (b) women who are employed on term-time contracts in schools;
	(4)  what estimate he has made of the number of people employed on term-time contracts in schools whose hourly pay over the year places them below the lower earnings limit for national insurance contributions.

David Miliband: holding answer 13 February 2003
	The pay and conditions of school support staff are a matter for local determination. The information requested is not collected centrally.

Schools (Job Evaluation Schemes)

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps he is taking to review the type and amount of data collected by his Department on term-time working in education; and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: holding answer 13 February 2003
	National Statistics Strategic Review of school workforce statistics began this month. This review is intended to ensure that official statistics are fit for purpose, of appropriate quality and are valuable. Major stakeholders will be invited to take part in the review and a consultation process will enable other users to provide input. The possibility of collecting data on term-time working will be considered.
	Further details about National Statistics Reviews can be found on the National Statistics website at:
	http://www.nationalstatistics.gov.uk/methods quality/quality review/quality review.asp

Sickness Absence

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the rate of staff (a) absenteeism and (b) sickness was in his Department, its predecessors and each of its agencies and non-departmental public bodies in each year from 1990–91 to 2002–03; what the target set is for his Department; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Twigg: My Department is committed to managing sickness absence effectively and is reviewing the way sickness absence is managed across the Department.
	The target for DfES as set out in the Service Delivery Agreement is to reduce sickness absence to 6.0 days per staff year by 2003. The overall sickness absence rate in theDepartment for Education and Skills (DfES) for 2001 was 8.4 days per staff year.
	The overall sickness absence rate per staff year in the former Department for Education and Employment (DfEE) and its agency, the Employment Service (ES), for each of the years from 2000 to 1995 was:
	
		
			 Calendar Year DfEE (excluding ES) (Days) ES (Days) DfEE (including ES) (Days) 
		
		
			 2000 7.7 11. 8 11. 3  
			 1999 7.6 11.5 11.0  
			 1998 8.9 11. 9 11 .6  
			 1997 9.8 13.0 12.6  
			 1996 10.3 12.1 11.8  
			 1995 10.3 12.4 11.9  
		
	
	The overall sickness absence rate per staff year for the former Employment Department (ED) in 1994 was 10.2 days and for ES, 11.3 days; the rate for the ED Group, which also comprised the Health and Safety Executive and the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service, was 11.0 days. The overall sickness absence rate per staff year for the former Department of Education in 1994 was 8.2 days.
	The information is taken from the report "Analysis of Sickness Absence in the Civil Service", which is published annually by Cabinet Office. The figures for 2002 will be announced in due course; figures prior to 1994 are no longer readily available.
	Non- Departmental Public Bodies
	The overall sickness absence rates per staff year in the years in question for each of the non-Departmental Public Bodies (NDPBs) attached to DfES, where they are applicable and available, are set out in tables 1 and 2 following.
	
		
			 Calendar Year Construction Industry Training Board (Days) Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (Days) National College for School Leadership (Days) Higher Education Funding Council for England (Days) Investors in People UK (Days) 
		
		
			 2002 10.5 7.7 4.9 1.8 3.5  
			 2001 8.6 6.5 2.1 3.5 6.0  
			 2000 6.5   2.1 4.3  
			 1999 6.2   2.1 2.0  
			 1998 6.1   6.3  
			 19978.4  
			 19968.2  
			 19955.1  
			 19946.1  
			 19936.1  
		
	
	
		
			 Financial Year Adult Learning Inspectorate (Days) Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (Days) Student Loans Company (Days) Teacher Training Agency (Days) British Educational Communication on and Technology Agency (Days) Learning and Skills Council (Days) 
		
		
			 2001/02 6.5 7.4 11. 2 7.4 5.6 7.0  
			 2000/01  8.4 12.0 5.4 4.8  
			 1999/00  7.4 10. 8 6.7 10.3  
			 1998/99  7.4 12.2  4.3  
			 1997/98  6.0 10.8  5.8  
			 1996/97   8.1  10.6  
			 1995/96   7.7  10.0  
			 1994/95 8.5  
		
	
	The information in tables 1 and 2 has been provided by the NDPBs. Information on absenteeism is not held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Standard Spending Assessment

David Atkinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the education SSA per head is in secondary schools in (a) Bournemouth, (b) Poole, (c) Southampton, (d) Brighton, (e) Hampshire, (f) Dorset, (g) Wiltshire and (h) Sussex.

David Miliband: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Lichfield (Michael Fabricant) on 8 January, Official Report, columns. 231–33W.

Student Debt

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what provision will be made under his proposals for higher education funding, regarding students who are unable to realise a working income sufficient to pay off the debt incurred as part of study fees because of (a) medical incapacity and (b) other reasons; and if he will make a statement.

Margaret Hodge: There are already appropriate arrangements in place under the current income-contingent repayment scheme. Repayment of a student's loan will be cancelled: when they reach the age of 65; if they are unable to work due to permanent disability; or when they die. Any graduate with a loan whose income is below the threshold at which repayments begin, currently £10,000 but rising to £15,000 in April 2005, will not be required to make repayments. This approach is both fair and equitable, and will continue when loans for deferred tuition fees are introduced in 2006–07.

Teachers

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many teachers retired in 2001–02.

David Miliband: In 2001–02 financial year, 9,950 teachers retired from the maintained schools sector in England. Further details can be found in the recently published 2002 edition of "Statistics of Education: Schools Workforce in England" . This is available now in the statistical section of the DfES website and will soon be placed in the House Library.

Teachers

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many (a) secondary and (b) primary school teachers were newly employed by each local education authority in England and Wales on (i) permanent and (ii) short-term temporary contracts in each academic year since 1997–98.

David Miliband: Information is not available in the form requested. The table showing new entrants 1 to full-time or part-time 2 teaching in the maintained schools sector, in England by local education authority has been placed in the Library. Teachers providing short-term supply cover are not included.
	The National Assembly for Wales is responsible for the supply of teachers in Wales.
	1 Those in service at the end of the period shown who had no known service in the maintained schools sector before that period. Includes newly qualified entrants and those who deferred entry.
	2 Around 10 to 20 per cent. of part-timers may not be included.

Teachers

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many teachers are affected by the cancellation of the early retirement option broken down by age and LEA; and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: Early retirement continues to be available to teachers over the age of 50 where their employment has been terminated by their employer and their employer has agreed to meet the associated additional pension costs. In addition, teachers over the age of 55 are able to retire voluntarily with pension benefits that have been actuarially reduced to take account of their early payment. In 2001–02, for example, some 3,500 teachers retired early through these routes.

Teacher (Suffolk)

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many teacher vacancies there were in Suffolk in each year since 1997.

David Miliband: The information is shown in the following table.
	
		
			 January Teachers(37) Vacancies(38) Vacancy rate(39) (percentage) 
		
		
			 1997 4,790 36 0.8 
			 1998 4,860 25 0.5 
			 1999 4,880 38 0.8 
			 2000 4,870 23 0.5 
			 2001 4,840 89 1.8 
			 2002 4,850 84 1.7 
		
	
	(37) Full-time teachers in post in the maintained schools sector.
	(38) Advertised vacancies for full-time permanent appointments (or appointments of at least one term's duration) in maintained nursery, primary, secondary and special schools. Includes vacancies being filled on a temporary basis.
	(39) Vacancies as a percentage of teachers in post.
	Source:
	DfES annual 618G survey.

Teachers (East Riding)

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many teachers entered into (a) full-time and (b) part-time service in maintained schools in the East Riding of Yorkshire in each year since 1997.

David Miliband: The information is given in the following table.
	
		
			   1 April 1997 to 31 March 1998  1 April 1998 to 31 March 1999  1 April 1999 to 31 March 2000(40) 
			  Full-time Part-time(41) Full-time Part-time(41) Full-time Part-time(41) 
		
		
			 New entrants(42) 15 15 20 10 15 10 
			 Returner to maintained sector(43) 10 15 20 20 20 25 
			 Moved from other LEA in England(44) — 5 — — 5 0 
		
	
	(40) The most recent data available at LEA level.
	(41) The database of teacher records is maintained for pension purposes. Some part-time non-pensionable service is not recorded, as a result around 10 per cent. to 20 per cent. of part-timers may not be included.
	(42) Those in service at the end of the period shown who had no known service in the maintained schools sector before that period. Includes newly qualified entrants and those who deferred entry.
	(43) Teacher has returned to service in the maintained schools sector.
	(44) Teacher has moved from service in the maintained schools sector elsewhere in England.

Top-up Fees

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what representations his Department has received from (a) higher education institutions and (b) student bodies (i) in favour and (ii) against the introduction of top up fees.

Margaret Hodge: The Department has received a number of representations from a variety of sources on the question of university fees. Representations before the publication of the White Paper were not, of course, set in the context of our full proposals, including the ability of students to defer fees rather than pay them up front, the continuation of fee remission grant, the introduction of a new additional grant, and the role of the Access Regulator.
	Following the launch of the White Paper—"The Future of Higher Education"—we are engaging in a wide-ranging dialogue with those who provide higher education and those who benefit from it. The period for comment will run until 30 April 2003. Following the conclusion of this period, we shall make available a summary of comments on the Department for Education and Skills website.

Tuition Fees

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what he estimates the annual costs of deferred tuition fees will be to his Department, once they are introduced in 2006.

Margaret Hodge: The costs of offering students the option to defer their tuition fees will depend on the proportion of those students who decide to defer payment of fees, which institutions decide to charge variable fees, at what level and for which courses, and the number of students taking those courses.

Tuition Fees

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what mechanisms his Department will put in place to recover debt from non-UK EU-resident students under the post-2006 university tuitions fee arrangements; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the likely default rate on tuition fee payments from non-UK, EU-resident students from 2006 onwards; and if he will make a statement.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 11 February 2003
	Non-UK EU students are not eligible for maintenance loans. Mechanisms are in place to recover loans from UK students who live abroad after graduation, and who are outside the UK tax system, through direct payments to the Student Loans Company. The arrangements for collecting varied fees from EU graduates will be based on these arrangements.

Tuition Fees

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate he has made of the cost to Government of abolishing tuition fees in higher education.

Margaret Hodge: For 2002–03, the standard tuition fee contribution for full-time home and EU students of £1,100 is estimated to raise around £853 million for English institutions and around £57 million for Welsh institutions. The contribution made from public and private resources towards these totals is as follows.
	
		£ millions
		
			 2002–03 estimate England Wales 
		
		
			 Public contributions to fees 447 30 
			 Private contributions towards the cost of tuition 406 27 
			 Total 853 57 
		
	
	Note:
	Private contributions to tuition fees have been estimated from 2000–01 LEA income assessment data and assumed growth rates in annual earnings.
	Estimates are based on projections of student numbers derived from actual data for academic year 2000–01. The figures for Wales exclude initial teacher training.
	If the Government were to abolish tuition fees, the extra cost to the public purse would be the loss of private contribution towards the cost of tuition.

Tuition Fees

Dave Watts: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what recent estimate he has made of the cost of providing all students with free tuition at university.

Margaret Hodge: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Blaenau Gwent (Llew Smith) on 20 February 2003.

Tuition Fees

Dave Watts: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what level of support students receive in (a) Scotland, (b) Wales and (c) other EU countries.

Margaret Hodge: Financial support for students in Scotland is the responsibility of the First Minister for Scotland. Financial support for students in Wales is broadly the same as in England, except that the Welsh Assembly has introduced additional Assembly Learning Grants of up to £1,500 for Welsh-domiciled students on low incomes. About a quarter of Welsh HE students are expected to qualify for some or all of this grant.
	The Department does not have up to date information about arrangements in all EU countries. However, the level of public spending on financial support for students in the UK as a percentage of total public expenditure on higher education is the highest in the OECD, including many EU countries.

University Applications

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimates he has made of the number of students applying to attend university in each of the next three years.

Margaret Hodge: Estimates of the number of students applying to attend university are not available centrally. However, the Department does make estimates of the number of students likely to attend English universities.
	The projected number of UK and EU domiciled students attending English universities from 2003–04 to 2005–06, as set out in the Secretary of State's Grant Letter to the Higher Education Funding Council for England, is as follows.
	
		Fundable full-time equivalents (FTEs) in English institutions(45)
		
			 Financial year FTEs (000s) 
		
		
			 2003–04 1,115 
			 2004–05 1,134 
			 2005–06 1,157 
		
	
	(45) DfES fundable higher education students on prescribed courses in institutions of further and higher education.
	Source:
	DfES student numbers projection model

University Grants

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment he has made of the number of students able to claim grants for university in (a) Lancashire and (b) Chorley for the next three years.

Margaret Hodge: My Department collects data from local education authorities (LEAs) on the number of students domiciled in their area, studying in the UK and claiming grants by means of an annual and retrospective survey. Information is not available below LEA level or for future years at present and it will not be available for future years.

University Grants

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans he has to increase the threshold on eligibility to apply for university grants.

Margaret Hodge: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Selly Oak (Lynne Jones) on 6 February 2003, Official Report, column 358W

University Redundancies

Peter Lilley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many staff have been made redundant at each university in the UK since January 2002.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 7 February 2003
	The requested information is not held centrally.

Vehicle Fleets

Brian H Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the annual rate is at which his Department has renewed its vehicle fleet, by (a) volume and (b) percentage for each (i) category of vehicle, (ii) type of power unit and (iii) type of fuel over the last three years.

Stephen Twigg: My Department has a vehicle fleet of approximately 58 vehicles but information in the format requested is currently not available.

TREASURY

Bank of Credit and Commerce International

Harry Cohen: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will reassess with a view to publication, the parts of the Official Report into the affairs of BCCI that were excluded from public disclosure, with particular reference to information linking BCCI with organisations now known to conduct terrorism.

Ruth Kelly: Paragraph 2.538 of the Bingham Inquiry's report (Inquiry into the Supervision of The Bank of Credit and Commerce International, House of Commons Paper 198, 22 October 1992) says
	"Having made detailed enquiry of all the intelligence agencies, the Inquiry has found no evidence to suggest that the management of BCCI at any level above that of branch manager knowingly held or handled accounts of the Abu Nidal organisation or its front companies or any other terrorist organisation at any time."
	We have no plans to publish further material from the Bingham Inquiry.

Bank of Credit and Commerce International

Harry Cohen: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has had access to (a) all intelligence reports relevant to the official report on BCCI and (b) those intelligence reports that were supplementary to the BCCI report at around the time of its official publication; whether he has availed himself of that access; and if he will make a statement.

Ruth Kelly: It would not be appropriate to provide this information about access to intelligence material, as provided for under exemption 1(a) of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

Wages

Helen Jones: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what information his Department collects on wage rates in each parliamentary constituency or borough; and from what sources such information is collected.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Helen Jones, dated 18 February 2003
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your question about information collected on wage rates in each parliamentary constituency, and the sources of such information (97657).
	The Office for National Statistics (ONS) obtains average earnings data for paliamentary constituencies from the New Earnings Survey (NES).
	The NES is an annual enquiry sent to employers. It asks for information about the earnings and hours of a sample of employees, selected by National Insurance number. Data for parliamentary constituencies are published on the ONS website. The link below will take you to the latest data.
	http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme-labour/NES2002-Analyses-By-Region/NES2002-Analyses-by-region.pdf.

Wages

Helen Jones: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of individuals in Warrington, North who earn (a) up to £10,000 per annum, (b) between £10,000 and £20,000 per annum and (c) between £20,000 and £30,000 per annum.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Helen Jones, dated 18 February 2003
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question on earnings in Warrington North. (97658)
	The New Earnings Survey for April 2002 provides an estimate of the percentage of full-time adult employees in employment who were in the same job as in April 2001, whose gross annual pay in the tax year ending April 2002 was within the specified bands. This information is given in the table below.
	
		Percentage of employees in employment(46) in Warrington North(47) earning a specified amount in April 2002
		
			 Gross annual earnings Percentage(48) 
		
		
			  
			  
			 Less than £10,000 4 
			 £10,000 to £20,000 63 
			 More than £20,000 32 
		
	
	Notes
	Full-time adult employees who were in the same job a year previously.
	Based on the work-place post-code of the employee.
	The figures in the table do not sum to 100, as a result of rounding.
	Source
	ONS New Earnings Survey 2002

Card Transactions

Brian Cotter: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent estimate he has made of the cost of bank charges to retailers for credit and debit card transactions.

Ruth Kelly: holding answer 10 February 2003
	The Cruickshank report on Competition in UK Banking (published in March 2000) examined, among other things, issues relating to payment systems—including the cost of bank charges to retailers for credit and debit card transactions. The Government has not made any recent estimates of such charges. However, it is closely monitoring developments in payment systems and remains committed to introducing legislation to give the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) new powers to promote effective competition in payment systems—and will do so as soon as parliamentary time allows.
	To promote its understanding of how payment systems operate, and to help pave the way for its prospective powers, the OFT announced on 27 November that it would conduct an empirical study into recent payment system developments. The terms of reference of this study were published on 31 January 2003—and include issues related to pricing in the credit and debit card markets. The OFT has undertaken to publish a report outlining its assessment and conclusions in spring 2003.

Computer Fraud

Paul Burstow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many cases of computer (a) hacking, (b) fraud and (c) theft his Department recorded in 2001–02; and on how many occasions computer systems have been illegally accessed by computer hackers (i) within and (ii) outside his Department.

Ruth Kelly: Recorded cases for each type were as follows:
	
		
			 Type HMT IR C&E Total 
		
		
			 External hacking 1 0 0 1 
			 Internal hacking 0 0 0 0 
			 Fraud 0 2 0 2 
			 Theft 3 75 34 112 
		
	
	All the above incidents were investigated and reported to the Government's Unified Incident Reporting and Alert Scheme (UNIRAS).

Corporate Reporting

Mark Prisk: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what discussions officials from his Department have had with representatives of (a) the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, (b) the European Federation of Accountants and Auditors and (c) the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales concerning proposals for quarterly corporate reporting;
	(2)  what recent discussions officials from his Department have had with officials from the European Union on proposals for quarterly corporate reporting.

Ruth Kelly: Treasury officials have raised the issue of quarterly reporting with European Commission officials in the context of a draft proposal for a directive on the transparency obligations of companies with securities traded on regulated markets in the European Union.
	Treasury officials have informally consulted a wide range of representatives of the business community on this draft proposal for a directive, and will continue to do so. These discussions have not involved the three organisations to which the question refers, although it is intended that consultation will be broadened to include, for example, representatives of the accountancy and auditing professions.

Corporation Tax

Adam Price: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of all taxes on income paid by households and business was accounted for by corporation tax in 1998.

Paul Boateng: Figures for corporation tax and taxes on income and wealth for 1998 are available in the National Statistics publication Financial Statistics, in Table 2.1C and Table 14.6B respectively.

Data Access Powers

Harry Cohen: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether (a) the Inland Revenue and (b) Customs and Excise may gain access to communications data using powers other than those specified in the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2002 and the Interception of Communications Act 1985.

Dawn Primarolo: The Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA) 2000 repealed the Interception of Communications Act 1985.
	(a) It is anticipated that regulations to be laid by the Home Office later this year under the RIPA 2000 will give the Inland Revenue access to some communications data covered by the Act. Thereafter, it is expected that any access to communications data from communications service providers will be through the powers specified. The Inland Revenue have more general powers to require the production of information under the Taxes Management Act 1970.
	(b) It would be normal for HM Customs and Excise to use the provisions specified in the RIPA 2000 to access communications data in all cases whenever and wherever appropriate. However, in certain cases, normally arrest situations, they will use other primary legislation—PCEA, DTA and VAT Act—to access stored data such as voice mail but this would only be in a very small number of cases and in accordance with Section 1 (5)(c) of the RIPA Part 1, Chapter 1.

E-mail Addresses

Tim Yeo: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer by what e-mail address members of the public may contact (a) him and (b) each of the Ministers in his Department; and for each e-mail address if he will state (i) the date it became active and (ii) the number of e-mails received in each month since activation.

Dawn Primarolo: Members of the public may e-mail Treasury Ministers at: ministers@hm-treasury.gov.uk The address was set up in 1999. Information on the number of e-mails received is available only from October 2002, and is as follows:
	
		
			 Month Number of e-mails received 
		
		
			 October 2002 792 
			 November 2002 366 
			 December 2002 266 
			 January 2003 127

Greater London Assembly

Tom Cox: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what financial assistance his Department gave to the Greater London Assembly in 2002; and for what projects.

Paul Boateng: No financial assistance was given directly to the London Assembly by central Government Departments in 2002–03.

Income Tax

David Willetts: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his answer of 22 January, Official Report, column 412W, on income tax, if he will provide comparable figures on the amount of income tax paid according to (a) gender and (b) 10-year age bands for each year from 1992–93 to 1999–2000.

Dawn Primarolo: Amounts of income tax liabilities broken down by gender and 10-year age bands in 1994–95 to 1999–2000 are in the tables. Reliable estimates for the earlier years could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	
		£ million
		
			  Total Tax 
			 Age band Male Female All 
		
		
			 1994–1995
			 Under 20 110 80 190 
			 20–29 5,970 3,510 9,480 
			 30–39 14,000 4,980 19,000 
			 40–49 14,700 4,200 18,900 
			 50–59 9,890 2,730 12,600 
			 60–69 4,180 1,590 5,770 
			 70 or over 2,080 1,320 3,400 
			 All 50,900 18,400 69,400 
			 
			 1995–96
			 Under 20 230 120 350 
			 20–29 6,300 3,600 9,900 
			 30–39 14,500 5,120 19,600 
			 40–49 16,100 4,840 21,000 
			 50–59 11,000 3,080 14,100 
			 60–69 4,350 1,470 5,820 
			 70 or over 2,300 1,380 3,680 
			 All 54,800 19,600 74,400 
			 
			 1996–97
			 Under 20 180 100 270 
			 20–29 5,710 3,500 9,210 
			 30–39 14,700 5,270 20,000 
			 40–49 16,900 4,970 21,900 
			 50–59 12,000 3,140 15,100 
			 60–69 4,450 1,360 5,820 
			 70 or over 2,100 1,470 3,570 
			 All 56,000 19,800 75,800 
			 
			 1997–98
			 Under 20 170 100 270 
			 20–29 5,680 3,490 9,170 
			 30–39 15,300 5,630 21,000 
			 40–49 16,500 5,120 21,600 
			 50–59 13,300 3,630 16,900 
			 60–69 4,930 1,540 6,480 
			 70 or over 2,430 1,640 4,080 
			 All 58,400 21,200 79,500 
			 
			 1998–99
			 Under 20 220 130 350 
			 20–29 6,160 3,610 9,770 
			 30–39 17,000 6,330 23,300 
			 40–49 18,700 5,620 24,300 
			 50–59 14,500 3,920 18,400 
			 60–69 5,400 1,840 7,240 
			 70 or over 2,820 1,780 4,610 
			 All 64,800 23,200 88,000 
			 
			 1999–2000
			 Under 20 210 120 330 
			 20–29 6,210 3,720 9,930 
			 30–39 18,100 6,510 24,600 
			 40–49 19,300 5,950 25,300 
			 50–59 15,800 4,170 19,900 
			 60–69 5,640 1,720 7,360 
			 70 or over 2,870 1,620 4,490 
			 All 68,200 23,800 92,000 
		
	
	All estimates are based on the Survey of Personal Incomes.

Investment Ombudsman

Patsy Calton: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many complaints have been received in the past year by the Investment Ombudsman; how many have been upheld; and what the terms of reference are of the Ombudsman.

Ruth Kelly: The Office of the Investment Ombudsman became a part of the Financial Ombudsman Service on 1 December 2001. The Financial Ombudsman Service replaced the eight separate complaint-handling schemes that existed before for financial services disputes.
	Page 14 of the Annual Report by the Financial Ombudsman Service for the year 2001–02, published in June 2002, gives an analysis of the different categories of complaints received by them. Page 16 gives an analysis of the outcomes of cases considered by them in 2002–02.
	The Financial Ombudsman Service's terms of reference form a part of the Complaints Sourcebook, contained in the Financial Service Authority's Handbook of rules and guidance. Chapter 2 sets out the Ombudsman's jurisdiction, Chapter 3 sets out the Ombudsman's complaint handling procedures and Chapter 4 contains the standard terms for the Ombudsman's voluntary jurisdiction. The Complaints Sourcebook is available in HTML format on FSA's website at the following address: http://www.fsa.gov.uk/vhb/html/disp/DISPtoc.html

Iraq

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to initiate research into the cost of a possible conflict with Iraq; and if he will make a statement.

Tam Dalyell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what provision he has made for financing an attack on Iraq.

Paul Boateng: No decision on military action in Iraq has been taken. We still await the outcome of the weapon inspection process under UN Security Council Resolution 1441.
	However, the Chancellor announced a contingency reserve of £1 billion in the Pre-Budget Report to help meet our international defence responsibilities. The Ministry of Defence has been drawing down this amount to meet the cost of preparation. The Chancellor has now announced an additional three-quarters of a billion to be made available in this financial year for further commitments should this prove necessary.

Money Laundering

Harry Cohen: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has received the French parliamentary report The City of London, Gibraltar and the Crown Dependencies: offshore centres, sanctuaries for dirty money; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Boateng: The 'Montebourg Report' of October 1991 made a number of unfounded allegations without supporting evidence about terrorist money laundering in the City of London, Gibraltar and the Crown Dependencies. These claims were refuted at the time of publication by the UK Government and by the authorities of Gibraltar and the Crown Dependencies. The UK has stringent laws to combat money laundering and the financing of terrorism. The Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 further enhances controls and the Financial Services Authority takes vigorous action to enforce these controls. It is also the policy of Gibraltar and the Crown Dependencies to take the firmest measures to combat money laundering and terrorist financing.

Online Trading

Tim Yeo: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what (a) products, (b) goods and (c) services were (i) bought and (ii) sold online by his Department in each of the last five years.

Ruth Kelly: The information is as follows:
	Office of Government Commerce
	The following goods and services are bought on-line:
	Books
	Journals
	Training equipment/materials
	IT hardware
	IT software
	IT accessories
	Mobile phones
	Stationery
	Electrical goods
	Audio/visual equipment
	Subscriptions (professional fees)
	Training courses
	Hotels/conferences
	Consultancy
	Travel.
	The following goods and services are sold online:
	Property and construction publications and training.
	OGC buying solutions
	The following goods and services are bought online :
	IT hardware
	IT software
	IT consumables
	Stationery
	First-aid supplies
	Safety signs
	Paper cups
	Artwork
	Publications and journals
	Travel
	Hotels
	Fruit, vegetables and flowers.
	HM Customs and Excise
	The following goods and services are bought online:
	Stationery
	Paper
	Business reply envelopes
	Car hire 1
	Photocopiers
	Body armour
	IS consultancy
	Publications
	Departmental printing
	Security printing
	Temporary agency staff
	IS consumables
	Tools
	First-aid supplies.
	1 Ceased in November 2002.
	No goods and services are sold online.
	HM Treasury
	The following goods and services are bought online:
	Stationery
	Computer consumables.
	No goods and services are sold online.

Partnerships UK

Norman Lamb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the nature is of the employment arrangements of John Yard and John Gray in respect of their work for PUK; whether John Yard and John Gray remain employed by the Inland Revenue; what work John Yard and John Gray are undertaking within PUK; and what the financial arrangements are between PUK and the Inland Revenue with regard to the work of John Yard and John Gray.

Dawn Primarolo: holding answer 3 February 2003
	John Yard and John Gray are both employees of the Inland Revenue. John Yard is Director of Business Services. He has never worked for Partnerships UK. John Gray is on secondment to Partnerships UK until April 2004.
	In accordance with the normal Civil Service rules governing such secondments, Partnerships UK reimburses the Inland Revenue for the full cost of John Gray's salary, NIC and superannuation costs. Under these arrangements, secondees remain contractually subject both to the Official Secrets Act, and the special obligation imposed on officers of the Inland Revenue to safeguard the confidentiality of information. Section 6 Taxes Management Act 1970, and Section 182 Finance Act 1989.

Statistics

Karen Buck: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the official statistics published in the past five years by the Office for National Statistics which have been amended, stating the reasons in each case.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Ms Karen Buck dated 18 February 2003
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question on official statistics published by the Office for National Statistics.
	Official statistics are revised on a frequent and widespread basis, and for a variety of reasons including more complete and/or better source information, seasonal adjustment changes, rebasing and changes to the underlying administrative system. To catalogue every instance in the past five years would incur disproportionate costs.
	National Statistics policy on revisions will be made available n the Protocol on Revisions which will shortly be published for public consultation.

Student Fees

Chris Mullin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer by what amount it would be necessary to increase the standard rate of income tax (a) if student fees were paid out of general taxation and (b) if all fees and maintenance were paid out of general taxation.

Dawn Primarolo: Estimates of student and public contributions to fees in the financial year 2002–03 can be found on the HEFCE website at: www.hefce.ac.uk/news/hefce/2003/paper. DFES expect to pay £2.3 billion to the Student Loans Company to support student loans and hardship loans. Estimates of the effects of illustrative changes in taxation, including income tax, can be found in table 4 of the "Tax ready reckoner and tax reliefs", published in November 2002, which is available in the Library.

Terrorism

Mark Prisk: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much money has been (a) seized and (b) frozen under anti-terrorist legislation since 11 September 2001.

Ruth Kelly: Assets seized under anti-terrorist legislation are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary.
	Following 11 September 2001, £10,230,810 was frozen under Orders applying United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1267 and 1333 which froze accounts to prevent use by, inter alia, the then Taliban Government of Afghanistan. Subsequently, the Al-Qaeda and Taliban (United Nations Measures) Order 2002 implemented United Nations Security Council Resolution 1390 and, as well as allowing for the release of funds belonging to the legitimate Afghan Government, provided for the continued freezing of accounts belonging to Al-Qaeda.
	Amounts totalling £346,382 remain frozen under the Orders implementing United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1373 and 1390.

Unpaid Tax

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his answer of 22 January 2003, Official Report, column 422W, on unpaid tax, if he will estimate the total unpaid tax, broken down by each major category, for 2000–01; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: holding answer 3 February 2003
	The Inland Revenue's accounting year for tax runs to the end of October each year. Over the last eight years, the amounts of tax unpaid at that date have approximately halved as a proportion of the tax collected during the year.
	The figures for October 2001 were:
	
		
			 Inland Revenue £ million 
		
		
			 Income Tax other than PAYE 2,348.7 
			 Corporation Tax(46) 566.6 
			 Other (Capital Gains Tax and Petroleum Revenue Tax) 33.6 
			 Total 2,948.9 
		
	
	(46) This figure includes an estimate for the amount of unpaid self assessed corporation tax
	These figures for uncollected tax represent net tax charged but not paid as at the accounting date, and are a snapshot of the position at the date of the account. Most of the tax uncollected at the balance of each account is subsequently collected, and most of the amount outstanding attracts an interest charge.

Working Families Tax Credit

Caroline Flint: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to allow parents to claim under working families tax credit for extra costs to child care when the extra costs run for less than four consecutive weeks.

Dawn Primarolo: The child care tax credit within the working families tax credit provides support to families for the costs of registered or approved child care. Once an award of working families tax credit is made, it cannot be adjusted to reflect changes in the claimant's child care costs. However, from April 2003, working families tax credit is replaced by the new child tax credit and working tax credit. The working tax credit includes a child care element which provides more flexible support for the costs of child care. In particular, the child care element of working tax credit can be adjusted to reflect significant changes in average weekly child care costs.
	In response to concerns raised with me by parents paying child care costs weekly, who may have short increases in child care costs during the school holidays, we will shortly bring forward regulations making a minor change to the system to allow parents to take account of changes in costs lasting less than four weeks. This will allow parents with fluctuating child care costs to have their tax credit based on their average child care costs, including any short-term fluctuations. It is our intention to produce this addition to the rules in good time for the start of the new tax credits system in April 2003. The Inland Revenue will issue clear guidance for parents and child care providers on how the system will work from April 2003.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Pension Provision (Women)

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment she has made of the adequacy of pension provision for women.

Ian McCartney: The Green Paper takes a comprehensive look at the issue of women, work and pensions.
	It recognises that it is often harder for women to build up state and private pensions rights than it is for men. This is because of a combination of factors including shorter working lives, lower pay and lower occupational pensions coverage among part-time workers. The Green Paper also recognises that the current generation of female pensioners are over represented in those groups of pensioners with low incomes.
	We have already taken action to address these issues.
	The introduction of the State Second Pension, from April 2002 provides extra help to those on low or moderate earnings, to certain carers and to certain people with long-term illness and disability.
	The Government have enabled some low paid workers to get national insurance benefits without paying contributions. From April 2000, the start point of national insurance contributions was separated from the lower earnings limit (LEL) for employees and aligned with the personal allowance for income tax. From April 2002–03, national insurance contributions only become payable on earnings from £89 a week whereas entitlement to national insurance benefits start accruing at £75 a week. This has benefited around half a million women.
	The Government have also already taken action to support the labour market position of women through, for example, the introduction of the national minimum wage and additional investment in child care.
	And many current female pensioners should benefit from the introduction of the pension credit in October 2003. Just over half of those entitled to the pension credit are single women. Two-thirds of those entitled to the pension credit will be women, and half of these women will be aged 75 or over.
	Finally, we are engaging in a wide-ranging consultation on proposals made within the Green Paper. In this document, we state our commitment to providing pensions information for everyone, but we recognise that this is particularly important for women.

Pensioners

Peter Lilley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the combined deduction of taxation and pensions credit for an extra £1 of income to a pensioner paying tax and receiving pensions credit.

Ian McCartney: The combined deduction of taxation and pension credit for an extra £1 of income will depend on the individual characteristics of the person, such as age, family status, eligibility for additional amounts and income level.
	The table shows an example of the deductions for a single person receiving pension credit and paying income tax, according to their gross income and age, assuming no additional amounts in payment.
	Deduction of tax and pension credit for a single person paying tax and receiving Pension Credit [with no additional amounts].
	
		
			 Age Gross income(£ per week) Deductionper £1 Net increase in income per £1 Description 
		
		
			 60–64 88.75–103.60 1.00 0.00 Pension credit [guarantee only] + 10 per cent. tax 
			 65–74 127.10–140.40 0.46 0.54 Pension credit [savings credit]+ 10 per cent. tax 
			 75+ 129.25–140.20 0.46 0.54 Pension credit [savings credit] + 10 per cent. tax 
		
	
	Notes:
	Calculations are for 2003–04 benefit and tax rates.
	The personal tax allowances are consistent with announcements made in the Pre-Budget Report 2002. Income tax bands have not yet been announced. For the purposes of this PQ they have been assumed to increase in line with normal indexation.
	Gross Income bands are defined using a 52-week year and then rounded to the nearest 5 pence.
	Taxation is defined as income tax only and excludes National Insurance contributions, which people below state pension age may pay.
	The effect of Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit is not included.
	The deductions and gross income bands may vary for people with entitlement to additional amounts in Pension Credit.
	Pension Credit entitlement is calculated according to post tax income.
	The guarantee within pension credit will be £102.10 for a single person in 2003–04 in net income terms.
	For single people, only those in the above income bands and age groups will be eligible for pension credit and be liable to pay income tax.

Benefit Payment

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners collect benefits from post offices in (a) Haltemprice and Howden and (b) the East Riding of Yorkshire.

Malcolm Wicks: The number of pensioners as at 28 December 2002 in the constituency of Haltemprice and Howden and the East Riding of Yorkshire receiving their benefits by a method of payment collectable at a post office is shown in the table. Included in these figures are customers paid by giro cheque. Giro cheques are encashable either at a post office, or they can be paid into a bank or building society account.
	
		
			  Number of pensioners 
		
		
			 Haltemprice and Howden 9,107 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire 37,916 
		
	
	Some customers who are paid direct into an account can also collect their benefit in cash at post offices through network banking arrangements at the Post Office. There is no data available on the number of benefit claims collected in this way.

Benefit Payment

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners have migrated from over-the-counter benefit payments to direct bank transfer in (a) Haltemprice and Howden and (b) the East Riding of Yorkshire.

Malcolm Wicks: The number of pensioners receiving DWP benefits (including War Pensions) who have migrated from payments collectable at the post office to payments direct into a bank or building society account is 43 in Haltemprice and Howden, and 159 in the East Riding of Yorkshire. The figures are as at 28 December 2002 compared with the same records from four weeks earlier.

Benefit Payment

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his estimate is of the cost of the minimum income guarantee and pension credit for each year from 1997–98 to 2004–05 (planned).

Ian McCartney: The information is shown in the table below:
	
		
			  Cash terms £ million Real Terms (02/03 prices) £ million  
		
		
			 1997/98 out turn 3,773 4,249 
			 1998/99 out turn 3,619 3,967 
			 1999/00 out turn 3,781 4,046 
			 2000/01 out turn 4,095 4,288 
			 2001/02 estimated out turn(47) 4,486 4,598 
			 2002/03 plans 4,470 4,470 
			 2003/04 plans(48) 5,287 5,171 
			 2004/05 plans 6,231 5,945 
		
	
	Notes:
	All estimates are consistent with the PBR2002 forecasts
	(47) Expenditure for 2001/02 reflects the latest estimate of out turn for the year and not
	the amounts voted by Parliament.
	(48) Pension Credit is introduced in October 2003.

Benefit Payment

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what percentage of pensioners collected benefits from post offices in the parliamentary constituency of Bury St. Edmunds.

Malcolm Wicks: The percentage of pensioners receiving DWP benefits (including war pensions) collectable at post offices in the Bury St. Edmunds constituency was 48 per cent. of all pensioners as at 28 December 2002. This figure includes benefits paid by giro cheque which can also be paid into a bank or building society account.

Benefit Take-up

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many pensioners in the London Borough of Southwark claim (a) the minimum income guarantee and (b) attendance allowance; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what the average take-up rate is of (a) the minimum income guarantee and (b) attendance allowance, expressed as a percentage; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what arrangements are in place between his Department and partner organisations to increase take-up of (a) the minimum income guarantee and (b) attendance allowance in the London Borough of Southwark; and if he will make a statement.

Ian McCartney: In August 2002, there were approximately 7,900 customers receiving the minimum income guarantee in the London Borough of Southwark and approximately 3,200 receiving attendance allowance.
	The information regarding the average take-up rate of minimum income guarantee for 1999–2000, the latest financial year for which estimates are available, can be found in the DWP publication, "Income Related Benefits Estimates of Take-Up in 1999–2000". A copy is placed in the Library.
	The next edition of the report containing estimates for 2000–01 will be released on 27 March 2003.
	Our fundamental priority is to put money in the pockets of pensioners who need it. The MIG take up campaign has put an average £20 a week extra in the pockets of 144,000 elderly people who would not have received it otherwise. These people would have lost out so the campaign undoubtedly achieved value for money.
	Because the MIG is more generous and the limits on capital have been increased, there has been a natural increase in the number of people who could claim. Our overall policy is, and will continue to be, that we will get as many eligible pensioners as possible to claim their entitlement to the MIG.
	Pension credit will be introduced in October 2003 and we have developed a strategy to ensure maximum take-up.
	First, we will transfer existing MIG recipients to pension credit ready for payments to be made from October 2003;
	Second, we will run mass advertising (TV and Press) from September 2003 to launch pension credit and advise pensioners and their friends and family of how The Pension Service and partner organisations can support them to consider and take-up entitlement;
	Third, we will write to all pensioners not already receiving MIG over the take-on period (through to October 2004) to help them consider any entitlement to pension credit and encourage those likely to be eligible to apply; and
	Fourth, we will work with local partners to help support the communications to pensioners, and tailor marketing and communications activity accordingly.
	We will review the take-up position during autumn 2004 and take any further action that may be necessary.
	The DWP set up the Partnerships against Poverty Forum for England and Wales as a working group in 2001 with the Local Government Association and voluntary organisations to develop joint working to improve take-up of minimum income guarantee.
	The group has, on a national basis, identified and developed a number of initiatives to improve access to entitlements and for the take-up of MIG by older people. The group has been instrumental in helping to develop products such as the shorter minimum income guarantee (MIG) claim form, the new MIG leaflet and the "At a Glance" and "Good Practice Guides", which all support the take-up of benefit entitlements. It also regularly reviews new and revised leaflets and has provided invaluable feedback into the training packages developed by The Pension Service local service.
	The Partnership Against Poverty members quickly recognised that the issues that adversely impact the take-up of entitlements by black and minority ethnic (BME) elders needed to be addressed separately. To support this, a sub-group was established.
	One of the first tasks of the group was to commission research into the barriers to look specifically at the problems faced by black and minority ethnic elder communities. The research will be qualitative and based around seven case studies looking at different groups. One of these is looking at the black African communities in Southwark.
	Take-up is encouraged through local services via their drop-in surgeries in Southwark. These take place frequently in partnership with local groups and organisations. These are Peckham One Stop, Black Elderly Group of Southwark, South Asian Elderly Organisation, Blackfriars Settlement and at the Surrey Quays Shopping Centre.
	In terms of attendance allowance, it is not possible to be precise about the number of pensioners who might be entitled if they claimed it. This is because entitlement to AA is determined on the customer's specific circumstances, which can only be determined after a claim has been made. Up-to-date estimates of the take up of AA and disability living allowance are not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	Sutton Disability Benefits Centre undertakes a number of targeted local activities to promote awareness of AA in the area it serves, which includes the London Borough of Southwark. This includes training and awareness sessions for Pension Service staff and external organisations.
	Notes on the minimum income guarantee figure:
	1. Based on a 5 per cent. sample, therefore subject to sampling variation.
	2. Figures have been rounded to the nearest hundred and are expressed in thousands.
	3. MIG claimants are defined as any live income support benefit unit where the claimant and/or partner are aged 60 and over.
	4. Local authority is assigned by matching postcodes against the relevant ONS postcode directory.
	Source:
	Income Support Quarterly Statistical Enquiry, August 2002.
	Note on the attendance allowance figure:
	Figures are in thousands and rounded to the nearest hundred.
	Source:
	IAD Information Centre, data taken from 5 per cent. sample.

Benefit Uprating

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions for what reason benefits are uprated by (a) RPI and (b) the Rossi index.

Ian McCartney: holding answer 13 February 2003
	The levels of all benefits and their components are reviewed annually. Contributory benefits and non-contributory benefits are uprated by the Retail Prices Index to meet the statutory requirement to increase them in relation to the general level of prices. Income-related benefits are uprated by the Rossi index which is based on the Retail Prices Index less housing costs. This index most clearly reflects the cost of living increases for recipients of income-related benefits since housing costs are separately provided for, for example by Housing Benefit for rent. Uprating benefits in line with prices maintains their value in real terms.

Child Support Agency

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many CSA cases were referred to the Independent Case Examiner in (a) Haltemprice and Howden and (b) the East Riding of Yorkshire in each year since 1997; what the average time taken to determine each case was; and how many complaints were upheld.

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many CSA cases were referred to the Independent Case Examiner in Portsmouth, South in each year since 1997; what the average time taken to determine each case was; how many complaints were upheld; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: The information is not available.

Council Tax Benefit

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the change in the level of expenditure on council tax benefit if the average level of council tax (a) rose by £100 and (b) fell by £100; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: An increase of £100 a year in the average level of council tax would result in an estimated annual increase of up to £600 million in council tax benefit expenditure. This figure includes the cost of increased payments to people already receiving council tax benefit as well as people who would become eligible for the benefit because of the council tax increase. An equivalent decrease would reduce expenditure by an estimated £500 million a year.
	Note:
	Figures are rounded to the nearest £50 million.
	Source:
	Figures are derived from the Department's policy simulation model, and are based on the 2000–01 Family Resources Survey, uprated to 2003–04 prices, benefit rates and caseloads and earnings levels.

Departmental Equipment (Theft)

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what equipment was stolen from his Department in 2002; what the approximate value of each item was; and if he will list items valued at more than £50 stolen or lost from his Department in 2002.

Malcolm Wicks: The DWP employs over 130,000 staff operating from 1,500 different locations and deals with over one million customers per day. Losses from theft are low.
	In total there have been 708 items of equipment recorded as stolen from the Department during 2002, with an approximate total value of £556,674.
	The 708 items are made up of:
	5 Official Vehicles
	103 Personal Computers
	469 System Base Units
	8 Printers
	16 Flat Screen Monitors
	60 Portable Computers
	47 Miscellaneous Items
	A list of those items valued at more than £50 has been placed in the Library.

Departmental Expenditure

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what his estimate is of the real growth of planned total expenditure by his Department for each year from 2002–03 to 2005–06; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the change in real spending on total administration costs for gross controlled areas for each year from 1998–99 to 2003–04 (planned); and if he will make a statement.

Ian McCartney: The Department for Work and Pensions came into being on 1 April 2001. Consequently there are no comparable figures prior to this date. The final provision for 2002–03 has yet to receive parliamentary approval and therefore a comparison with actual expenditure for 2001–02 or planned expenditure for 2003–04 cannot be made. The current expenditure plans of the Department for Work and Pensions are contained in Tables 1–11 of the departmental report: The Government expenditure plans 2002–03 to 2003–04, Command 5424.

Departmental Finance

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his estimate is of his Department's total budget as a share of total public spending in each year from 1979–80 to 2003–04, planned.

Ian McCartney: The Department for Work and Pensions came into being on 1 April 2001. Consequently there are no comparable figures prior to this date. The final provision for 2002–03 has yet to receive Parliamentary approval and therefore a comparison with expenditure for 2001–02 or planned expenditure for 2003–04 cannot be made. The current expenditure plans for the Department are contained in Tables 1–11 of the Departmental Report: The Government expenditure plans 2002–03 to 2003–04, Cm 5424.

Departmental Staff Numbers

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many staff were employed in each of the last four years for which figures are available by (a) his Department and its predecessor and (b) local authorities in connection with the administration of (i) housing and (ii) council tax benefit.

Malcolm Wicks: The overall strategy of our wide-ranging package of reforms for housing benefit (HB) announced on 17 October 2002, is to improve administration, promote choice and responsibility, enhance work incentives and reduce levels of fraud and error in the system. We provide help, guidance and support to local authorities to assist them in achieving these goals.
	The number of people currently employed by the Department identified as working exclusively on various aspects of housing benefit and/or council tax benefit (CTB) is 340. These figures are liable to fluctuation throughout the year as particular aspects of work expand and contract. In addition there are a number of officials whose cross cutting responsibilities include these benefits to a greater or lesser extent. Figures for earlier years are not available.
	Local authorities have responsibility for the day to day administration of HB and CTB. The number of full-time staff or full-time equivalents employed by local authorities in Great Britain to administer HB and CTB in the last four years for which figures are available is in the table.
	
		
			  Annual average number of full-time staff or full-time equivalents employed on HB/CTB administration 
		
		
			 1998–99 16,000 
			 1999–2000 16,000 
			 2000–01 17,000 
			 2001–02 17,000 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures have been rounded to the nearest thousand.
	2. Figures for any non-responding authorities have been estimated.
	3. Separate figures are not available for HB and CTB.
	Source:
	Housing Benefit Management Information System Quarterly Administration Returns April 1998 to March 2002

EU Pension Policies

Wayne David: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what studies he has made of the evolution of pension policies in other European Union countries; and what steps he has taken to reflect the findings of these studies in his policy on pensions provision.

Ian McCartney: The United Kingdom has contributed to the voluntary exchange of information and good practice by EU Member States within a framework of common objectives on pensions covering adequacy, financial sustainability and modernisation agreed during the Swedish Presidency of the EU.
	As part of this process the European Commission published a draft joint report on adequate and sustainable pensions in December 2002 based on national contributions.The draft report recognises that Member States have pension systems that have developed in very different ways and do not conform to one single model of provision. A major theme in the draft report is the need for urgent reform in many public pension systems to ensure they are financially sustainable in the future. This concurs with the UK's position that financial sustainability is a prerequisite for the adequacy of public pension provision. The UK public pension system is one of those found to be financially sustainable in the long term.
	The draft report concludes that the major challenge for the UK system is ensuring that there is increased access to occupational and personal pension provision and people are encouraged to save enough to meet their expectations in retirement. These same issues are addressed by the proposals set out in the Green Paper published in December 2002 on which we are currently consulting.

Free TV Licences

Graham Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners there are in Nottingham, North; how many qualify for a free TV licence; and how many get the minimum income guarantee.

Ian McCartney: The information is not available in the format requested. However such information as is available shows that in the parliamentary constituency of Nottingham, North:
	The number of recipients of state pension for September 2002 was 14.9 thousand.
	The number of pensioners over the age of 75 and therefore eligible to qualify for a free TV licence as at May 2002 was 6.5 thousand; and
	In November 2002, there were 4.2 thousand minimum income guarantee claimants.
	Notes:
	1. Figures are based on a 5 per cent. sample and are therefore subject to sampling variation.
	2. Figures have been rounded to the nearest hundred and are expressed in thousands.
	3. MIG claimants are defined as any live income support benefit unit where the claimant and/or partner are aged 60 and over.
	4. Parliamentary constituency is assigned by matching postcodes against the relevant ONS postcode directory.
	Sources:
	1. Pension Strategy Computer System as at 30 September 2002.
	2. Client Group analysis of the population over state pension age May 2002.
	3. Income Support Quarterly Statistical Enquiry, November 2002.

Housing Benefit

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what action the Department is taking to co-ordinate housing benefit anti-fraud work with the Inland Revenue's work on tax credit fraud; whether a working group has been established to consider this; and how many joint local authority and Inland Revenue fraud prosecutions have occurred.

Malcolm Wicks: A working group, whose members include representatives from the Inland Revenue and local authority associations, has been meeting to consider all the implications for local authorities of the introduction of new tax credits.
	Information is not available on the number of joint local authority and Inland Revenue fraud prosecutions that have occurred.

Income-related Benefits

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he intends to publish Income Related Benefits: Estimates of Take-Up 2000–01; and for what reason it has been delayed.

Malcolm Wicks: Income Related Benefits Estimates of Take-up 2000–01 will be published on 27 March 2003. This has been pre-announced in Updates—the ONS diary of statistical releases. The forthcoming statistics will incorporate findings from research commissioned to improve the precision and accuracy of MIG take-up estimates; this addition has extended the production process.

Minimum Income Guarantee

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the cost per claimant of administering the minimum income guarantee.

Ian McCartney: Information is not currently available in the format requested. The Department now accounts for its administration and benefit expenditure by Strategic Objective, as set out in its Public Service Agreements (PSA), and by individual Requests for Resources (RfRs), as set out in the Departmental Estimates and Accounts.

Pension Credit

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether all pensioners newly entitled to the pension credit will be able to claim the money in October.

Ian McCartney: Yes

Pension Payments

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners draw their retirement pensions at (a) post offices, (b) banks and (c) building societies in the Portsmouth, South constituency; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: The number of pensioners in receipt of Retirement Pensions collectable at Post Office in the Portsmouth, South constituency was 7,886 at 28 December 2002. This figure includes payments by giro cheque, which can also be paid into a bank or building society account. The number of pensioners in receipt of Retirement Pension paid directly into a bank or building society was 6,373 as at 28 December 2002. Information to differentiate between payments into bank and building society accounts is not available.
	Some customers who are paid direct into an account can also collect their benefit in cash at post offices through network banking arrangements at the Post Office. There is no data available on the number of benefit claims collected in this way.

Pension Payments

John Cummings: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners draw their retirement pensions at (a) post offices, (b) banks and (c) at building societies in the Easington constituency.

Malcolm Wicks: The number of pensioners in receipt of retirement pension collectable at post offices in the Easington constituency was 9,939 at 28 December 2002. This figure includes payments by giro cheque, which can also be paid into a bank or building society account. The number of pensioners in receipt of retirement pension paid directly into a bank or building society was 2,853 as at 28 December 2002. Information to differentiate between payments into bank and building society accounts is not available.
	Some customers who are paid direct into an account can also collect their benefit in cash at post offices through network banking arrangements at the Post Office. There are no data available on the number of benefit claims collected in this way.

Pension Payments

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners have migrated from over-the-counter benefit payments to direct bank transfer in Portsmouth, South; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: The number of pensioners in Portsmouth, South constituency that have migrated from payments collectable at post offices to payment into a bank or building society account is 50 as at 28 December 2002, compared with the same records from data available four weeks earlier.
	Some customers who are paid direct into an account can also collect their benefit in cash at post offices through network banking arrangements at the Post Office. There are no data available on the number of benefit claims collected in this way.

Pension Payments

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners collect benefits from post offices in Portsmouth, South; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: The number of pensioners receiving DWP benefits (including war pensions) collectable from post offices in Portsmouth South is 10,034 as at 28 December 2002. This figure includes benefits paid by giro cheque, which can also be paid into a bank or building society account.
	Some customers who are paid direct into an account can also collect their benefit in cash at post offices through network banking arrangements at the Post Office. There are no data available on the number of benefit claims collected in this way.

Pension Schemes

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many defined benefit schemes are (a) open, (b) closed to new members and (c) closed to further contributions from existing members, giving for each type of scheme the estimated number of members, in each of the past five years.

Ian McCartney: The information requested is not available. However, the Pensions Scheme Registry that is administered by the Occupational Pensions Regulatory Authority contains some relevant data that are shown in the table.
	Defined Benefit Occupational Pension schemes, 1998–99 to 2002–03
	
		New registrations/change of scheme status
		
			  Open Closed Frozen 
			  Number of schemes Number of members at registration date (thousand) Number of schemes Number of members at effective date of status change (thousand) Number of schemes Number of members at effective date of status change (thousand) 
		
		
			 1 April 1998–31 March 1999 111 25 103 180 41 11 
			 1 April 1999–31 March 2000 86 16 115 54 52 8 
			 1 April 2000–31 March 2001 97 59 161 94 87 113 
			 1 April 2001–31 March 2002 78 32 263 560 65 45 
			 1 April 2002–31 March 2003 22 19 198 146 65 41 
		
	
	There are some important points to note with regard to the data in the table:
	'Open' schemes are those that had a registerable date on to the Pensions Scheme Registry during the year in question, and were also recorded as being open on 10 February 2003. This does not represent the total number of schemes that were open in the year in question. Figures in the table refer to the 'flow' of new open schemes in each particular year, rather than the 'stock' of all open schemes. Because of the way scheme-status changes are recorded on the Registry, it is not possible to identify the stock of all those schemes that were open at a particular point in time prior to the current date. Furthermore, scheme trustees have 12 months to notify OPRA of any change to the status of an open scheme, and so some schemes currently included in the table as open may since have changed status.
	'Closed' schemes are those that have become closed to new members during the year in question and remain closed as at 10 February 2003. Existing members in these schemes can continue to accrue additional pension rights. 'Frozen' schemes are those that have become closed to new accruals during the year in question and remain frozen as at 10 February 2003. The dates used for closed and frozen scheme figures relate to the effective date of change as notified by schemes and recorded by the Registry. In some cases, schemes do not supply an effective date and where this has occurred the date of inputting the change onto the Registry database has been used.
	Data for closed and frozen schemes refer only to the number becoming closed or frozen in the year in question, and do not represent the stock of the total number of schemes that were closed (previously closed plus newly closed in that year).
	The table updates previous information used to answer earlier PQs. As referred to above, the Registry system holds information on the most recent change in scheme status and the effective date of the change. Because of the way the data are held a later change will overwrite an earlier change, so data for earlier years become increasingly inaccurate. Trustees are required to report changes within 12 months so there could be a lag between the closure or freeze of a scheme and trustees informing the Registry that the scheme has actually closed or frozen. The table reflects the most up to date data available.
	Scheme members are those individuals that have accrued pension benefits and do not include those receiving pensions in payment. An individual may have pension benefits accrued in, and therefore may be a member of, more than one scheme.
	Membership figures for open schemes are given at the date of registration. Membership figures for closed or frozen schemes are given at the effective date of change of status.
	This information relates only to those schemes recorded on the Registry database as Defined Benefit. It does not include schemes where the benefit type is unknown or those offering a mixture of salary related and money purchase benefits.

Pension Service

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what specialist training is given to those working in Pension Service call centres.

Ian McCartney: Training for staff in the new Pension Service Pension Centres is designed to ensure that they have the knowledge and skills needed to provide a high-quality service to Pension Service customers. The training covers various themes, depending on each individual member of staff's role, including: customer service, IT/telephony, business procedures and management.

State Pensions

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his estimate is of the cost of increasing the basic state pension by (a) £5 per week, (b) £10 per week, (c) £15 per week, (d) £20 per week, and (e) to £100 per week, for (i) all pensioners, (ii) pensioners of age 75 and over, and (iii) pensioners of age 80 and over.

Ian McCartney: The information requested is set out in the tables.
	
		Cost of increasing the maximum rate payable of the basic state pension by £5, £10, £15 and £20 per week in 2003–04 -- £
		
			  £5 per week £10 per week £15 per week £20 per week 
		
		
			 All pensioners 1.5 billion 3 billion 4.6 billion 6.2 billion 
			 Pensioners aged 75 and over 800 million 1.5 billion 2.3 billion 3 billion 
			 Pensioners aged 80 and over 400 million 800 million 1.2 billion 1.6 billion 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Estimates are in cash terms for Great Britain and are rounded to the nearest £100 million.
	2. The estimates take account of offsetting savings in income related benefits. Income related benefit offsets are calculated using the Department for Work and Pensions Policy Simulation Model for 2003–04.
	3. Calculations assume the maximum rate payable of the basic state pension is increased by the amounts specified and all other payments proportionately.
	4. For modelling purposes, pension credit is assumed to be in place throughout 2003–04. In fact, pension credit will begin in October 2003.
	
		Cost of increasing the maximum rate payable of the basic state pension to £100 per week in 2003–04
		
			  £ billion 
		
		
			  
			  
			 All pensioners 7 
			 Pensioners aged 75 and over 3.4 
			 Pensioners aged 80 and over 1.9 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Estimates are in cash terms for Great Britain and are rounded to the nearest £100 million.
	2. The estimates take account of offsetting savings in income related benefits. Income related benefit offsets are calculated using the Department for Work and Pensions Policy Simulation Model for 2003–04.
	3. Calculations assume the maximum rate payable of the basic state pension is increased by the amounts specified and all other payments proportionately.
	4. For modelling purposes, pension credit is assumed to be in place throughout 2003–04. In fact, Pension credit will begin in October 2003.

Pensions Green Paper

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will set out the basis for the calculation of page 5 of the Green Paper "Simplicity, Security and Choice", that the simplification proposals in the Green Paper could save employers £150-£200 million per year.

Ian McCartney: The basis for the calculation can be found on page 129 of the green paper "Simplicity Security and Choice: Working and Saving for Retirement."

Pensions Green Paper

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will set out the basis of the calculation given in the Green Paper on pensions "Simplicity, Security and Choice: Working and Saving for Retirement", that there has been a 40 per cent. increase in pension contributions since 1997.

Ian McCartney: The increase in pension contributions since 1997 was calculated using the estimated value of contributions to private pension schemes from the Office for National Statistics, and deflating by the Retail Prices Index (RPI).
	The data used for the calculation are set out in the table.
	
		
			  Estimated contributions to private pension schemes(49) RPIX index (13 January 1987 equals 100.0) Estimated contributions to private pension schemes(50) 
		
		
			 1997 33.1 157.5 36.4 
			 1998 37.3 162.9 39.7 
			 1999 42.3 165.4 44.3 
			 2000 47.5 170.3 48.3 
			 2001 49.9(51) 173.3 49.9 (51) 
		
	
	(49) £ billion, current prices.
	(50) £ billion, 2001 prices.
	(51) Provisional.
	Contributions to private pension schemes have been calculated using the methodology outlined in the letter from the National Statistician to the right hon. Member for Fylde (Mr. Jack) on 29 October 2002, PQ 77826, Official Report, column 689W.
	The estimates are consistent with those published in both Annexe B table 1 of the Review of Pension Contributions Statistics and the ONS Blue Book for 2002. The Review of Pension Contribution Statistics suggested that until the full implementation of the recommendations of the review, these are the best estimates for pension contributions statistics.

Personal Pension Plans

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the guidance which he gives on funding for personal pension plans.

Ian McCartney: As the Green Paper 'Simplicity, security and choice: working and saving for retirement' (CM 5677) states that the decisions over how much pension an individual should have depends on their individual preferences and circumstances. Therefore, it is not appropriate for the Government to seek to stipulate the level of income that any particular person will need in retirement, and consequently the additional saving any one individual should make.
	We are committed, however, to actively encouraging people to consider their pension saving options early so that they have as clear a view as possible of their own pension funding needs. The Green Paper, sets out the Government's proposals to work with employers and the financial services industry to provide:
	A simple framework to help people understand their choices; Financial education and awareness to navigate the system, including access to generic financial advice for the mass market; Personalised information tailored to individual circumstances, so people can make informed choices; and a choice of suitable products.
	We are already running a pension education publicity campaign to make people aware of the importance of saving for retirement. The campaign is supported by a range of guides that provides information on pensions options. The current phase of activity started on 8 February 2003. In time, we plan to move the campaign forward from awareness so that it is more focused on taking action.
	In addition, we have already introduced measures to inform individuals of the level of pension they can expect when they save in a personal pension. New regulations that come into force in April require money purchase pension schemes (occupational, personal and stakeholder) to give members an annual illustration of what their pension might be when they require. This will give them important information about how theirpension plan is progressing.
	The Green Paper, therefore, sets out proposals for building on work that has already been done, as well as identifying new initiatives, in order to provide a coherent education and information effort. This will enable individuals to make choices as to the level of funding for their personal pensions.

Benefit Fraud

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent assessment he has made of benefit fraud in the East Riding of Yorkshire.

Malcolm Wicks: Our most recent estimate is that £2 billion is lost annually through benefit fraud in Great Britain. This estimate cannot be broken down for individual areas.

Post Office Card Accounts

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the issue of personal invitation documents to benefits customers in respect of Post Office card accounts; why the issue of personal invitation documents was delayed from 5 January 2003 until 24 March; and what estimate he has made of the likely impact of the delay on the number of benefits claimants signing up to card accounts in time for the launch on 1April.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 11 February 2003
	The Government has made clear that we will only accept the Post Office card account service once further testing and proving has shown that the Post Office can provide a reliable and robust system delivering high levels of customer service. We have been continually reviewing and refining our plans to issue Personal Invitation Documents, and will gradually start to issue them once we are sure the Post Office can deliver the required level of service.
	None of this affects people's choices. Customers will choose the account that best meets their needs and circumstances. The arrangements for issuing Personal Invitation Documents will not affect this choice—customers opting for a card account will simply be kept on their current method of payment (order book or giro) until they have been issued a Personal Invitation Document and then successfully opened a card account.

Post Office Card Accounts

Andrew Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of how housebound pensioners and others will be able to use a Post Office card account without giving their PIN to a carer.

Malcolm Wicks: Customers with a Post Office card account can, if they wish, nominate someone else to have permanent access to their account and collect their money for them. In these cases a second card with a separate PIN will be issued for use by the person nominated by the customer. The Post Office card account is not the only option available. Some housebound pensioners may find that a bank account, which may offer services such as phone or Internet banking, may be better to meet their personal needs.

Retirement Age

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his policy is on allowing civil servants to retire at the age of 65.

Ian McCartney: The Government has already begun to address the social and economic consequences of demographic change in its role as employer. One of the recommendations of Winning the Generation Game was that public sector employers should review their retirement ages and examine the case for allowing those who want to work on to age 65 to do so. Already 75 per cent. of civil servants now have the option to retire at 65 and the numbers able to serve beyond 60 are expected to increase.
	All staff in the Department for Work and Pensions, below the Senior Civil Service, are able to choose to remain in employment beyond the age of 60 for any period of time up to the age of 65.
	"Staff in the Senior Civil Service normally retire at the age of 60 but the Head of the Department and Agency Chief Executives have flexibility to retain members of the Senior Civil Service beyond age 60 if they judge it in the public interest and they are satisfied about the fitness and efficiency of the individual to carry out his or her duties. The most senior posts require written approval from the Head of the Home Civil Service to be retained for longer than three months beyond their 60th birthday."
	This is based on an extract from the Civil Service Management Code.
	Most public service pension schemes, however, still allow a normal pension to be taken at 60 or under. The Government is seeking views on the proposal that the rules of public service pension schemes should be changed and applied to all new members during the next few years to make an unreduced pension payable from age 65 rather than 60. Such a change would reflect improved longevity, modern working patterns and the practice in the majority of private sector pension schemes.

Senior Civil Servants (IT Qualifications)

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what IT qualifications each of the senior civil servants within his Department possesses.

Ian McCartney: Information on IT qualifications held by each senior civil servant is not held centrally. Senior civil servants are encouraged to gain IT skills through a range of internal and external training.

War Pensions

Michael Clapham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what mechanism exists to co-ordinate benefit awarded by his Department and those paid by the War Pensions Agency.

Malcolm Wicks: It has been a long-standing principle of the benefits system that it should not provide more than one benefit to cover the same contingency. While income from a War Pension is often disregarded for benefit purposes, there are certain circumstances where the award or cessation of a War Pension or supplementary allowance will necessitate an adjustment to the amount of benefit in payment.
	We have measures in place to ensure that benefits paid by this Department are co-ordinated with those paid by the Veterans Agency (formerly the War Pensions Agency), and that any appropriate adjustments to benefit claims are made in the normal course of events.
	Prior to the award of a Social Security benefit, a person must make a declaration of their circumstances, including details of the benefits they receive or have claimed. Once benefit is in payment, the recipient is advised to report any changes in their circumstances, including for example, the award or cessation of another benefit. Claims are also reviewed periodically by the Department to ensure their accuracy.
	In addition, all claims to benefit are recorded on a computer system to which our agencies and the Veterans Agency have access, enabling the relevant agencies to share information where appropriate.

Winter Fuel Payments

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to his answer of 22 January 2003, ref: 90125, what the reasons are for the assumption in the Green Paper on Pensions that spending on winter fuel payments will remain at their current level of £200 up until 2051–52; and, on the basis of the projections of spending given in the Green Paper, what the value of the winter fuel allowance will be in real terms in (a) 2011–12, (b) 2021–22 and (c) 2051–52.

Ian McCartney: The current amount of the Winter Fuel Payment of £200 will continue to be paid to each eligible household for the rest of this parliament. The rate will be kept under review. However, for the purposes of the projections in Annexe 3 of the Green Paper 'Simplicity, security and choice' (Cm 5677), it was necessary to make a modelling assumption about the value of winter fuel payments. Modelling assumptions should not be interpreted as statements of policy. It will be for future Governments to decide what the rate of Winter Fuel Payments should be for future years.
	The following table shows the projected future value of the winter fuel payment in 2002–03 prices on the assumption that it remains at its current cash value of £200 and that inflation remains constant at 2.5 per cent.
	
		WFP values in selected years -- £
		
			  Cash amount 2001–02 prices 
		
		
			 2011–12 200 155 
			 2021–22 200 121 
			 2051–52 200 58

Winter Fuel Payments

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners received winter fuel payments in the financial year 2001–02 in (a) Scotland, (b) Wales, (c) England and (d) Northern Ireland; and what the total payment was in each.

Ian McCartney: Most people aged 60 and over, who normally live in Great Britain are entitled to a Winter Fuel Payment. There is no need to be in receipt of a State Pension. Information based on the number of people who received a payment is given in the table below.
	Benefits in Northern Ireland are normally the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Social Security Agency (NISSA). However, the following figures are available as this Department processes Winter Fuel Payment's on behalf of NISSA. In winter 2001/2, 269,289 payments were made, totalling £42,152,400
	
		Total number of recipients of a Winter Fuel Payment for Winter 2001/2002.
		
			  Thousands Millions 
			  Total number of recipients Total amount paid 
		
		
			 Great Britain 11,201.9 1,680.6 
			 England 9,585.8 1,435.9  
			 Scotland 996.4 151.9 
			 Wales 619.7 92.8 
		
	
	Notes
	1. Figures are in thousands and have been rounded to the nearest hundred.
	2. Figures are in millions and have been rounded to the nearest hundred thousand.
	Source:Matching Intelligence Data Analysis Service Winter Fuels Payment 2001/2002 exercise.2.

Winter Fuel Payments

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his estimate is of the amount of unclaimed winter heating allowance for each year from 1999–2000 to 2003–04; and if he will make a statement.

Ian McCartney: Most eligible people receive their winter fuel payment automatically, without the need to claim. Over 11 million payments have been made this winter.
	We are unable to provide any reliable estimate of the amount of unclaimed Winter Fuel Payments because some people aged 60 and over are excluded, others may choose not to claim and payments are based on household composition.
	Where a person needs to claim, it is up to them whether they do so, and we publicise the availability of these payments.

Winter Fuel Payments

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his estimate is of the change in real spending on the winter heating allowance between 2000–01 and 2003–04 (planned); and if he will make a statement.

Ian McCartney: In 2002–3 price terms, expenditure of winter fuel payments was £1.83 billion in 2000/1 and it is estimated it will be £1.68 billion in 2003/4. These figures are based on the standard winter fuel payment being 200 for each year.

TREASURY

Burmese Narcotics

Vera Baird: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what percentage of illegal narcotics on UK streets he estimates originated from Burma in 2002;
	(2)  what (a) percentage and (b) types of intercepted illegal narcotics were believed to have originated from Burma in 2002.

John Healey: Burma is known to be a source of two of the narcotics that would be considered illegal if trafficked into the UK—heroin and methamphetamine. However there was no evidence in 2002, either from Customs and Excise intelligence or from analysis of samples of seized drugs, that any of these narcotics on the UK streets could be traced back to Burma.

Aggregates Tax

Roy Beggs: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how much aggregates tax revenue has been collected in Northern Ireland to date against that which would have been expected; and what is the estimated cost to date of implementing the tax in Northern Ireland;
	(2)  what research Customs and Excise have carried out into the amount of illegally imported aggregate from the Republic of Ireland;
	(3)  how he proposes to remove the incentive for people (a) to import aggregate from the Republic of Ireland, (b) to open up unauthorised extraction operations and (c) to sell aggregate without paying aggregate tax;
	(4)  how many tonnes of imported aggregate have been declared in tax returns to date;
	(5)  how many (a) detections of evasion of payment of aggregates tax and (b) prosecutions there have been;
	(6)  what mechanism is used by Customs and Excise to ensure that companies pay aggregates tax on stone.

John Healey: The Government has designed the aggregates levy to protect the international competitiveness of aggregates businesses by applying the levy to the commercial exploitation of all virgin aggregate used in the UK and by exempting exports. The Government has also recognised the unique position of the Northern Ireland processed products sector, those producing concrete, mortar and asphalt, by introducing a transitional relief scheme.
	This scheme allows the sector more time to adapt to the new market conditions by, for example, making increased use of levy-free alternatives to virgin aggregate.
	Customs and Excise assure aggregates levy in the same way that they assure other taxes and duties for which they are responsible. Assurance resources are allocated according to risk. Additionally, in the first year of its operation Customs are undertaking education and assurance visits to all companies registered for the levy. The resources allocated to administering the levy in Northern Ireland take account of issues associated with the land boundary, and this resourcing is subject to regular review.
	The levy is due at the point of first commercial exploitation in the UK and not at the point of import. Consequently aggregates can be imported without levy immediately being due and therefore the question of illegal imports does not arise. Where it cannot be demonstrated that commercially exploited aggregate is from a levy-paid source, Customs will use their powers to recover the revenue due and impose penalties, where appropriate.
	Similarly, figures for the total weight of aggregate imported into the UK are not available. Aggregates levy returns record the weight of aggregate which is commercially exploited in the UK and do not differentiate between domestically produced and imported aggregate.
	Data for revenue collected under the levy are recorded for the UK as a whole and are not available by devolved region; therefore, figures for levy revenue raised in Northern Ireland are not available. Equally, the cost of implementing the levy is estimated for the UK as a whole and not by devolved region.
	There have been no prosecutions for evasion of the levy. Customs' approach in the first year of the tax has been to ensure that those who should be registered are registered, and that the correct liability is established and paid.

Burglary

Nick Gibb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the cost of burglary offences to the British insurance industry each year between 1995 and 2002.

John Denham: I have been asked to reply.
	The Government do not make any estimates of the cost of burglary offences to the insurance industry. The Association of British Insurers (ABI) publish annual information in their "Insurance Statistics Yearbook" on total UK claims for property damage due to theft.
	The Home Office has published estimates of the economic and social costs of crime (Home Office Research Study 217). This study includes the cost of "insurance administration", that is the resources used in administering and processing premiums and claims, based on information in the ABI "Yearbook". The study estimates the total cost to society of insurance administration in England and Wales in 1999–2000 was £140 million for burglary in a dwelling and £50 million for burglary not in a dwelling.

Cancer Statistics

Jim Cousins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to (a) improve, (b) extend and (c) update statistics for five year survival rates for common cancers; and what programme of development work in such health statistics is under way.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Jim Cousins, dated 24 February 2002
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question concerning what steps are being taken to improve, extend and update statistics for five year survival rates for common cancers; and what programme of development work in such health statistics is underway. (99099)
	The Office for National Statistics is currently collaborating with the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine to produce survival statistics for adult patients diagnosed with the 20 commonest cancers in England and Wales during 1991–1999 and followed up to the end of 2001. These account for almost 90% of adult cancers. The work will include estimates of the socio-economic gradients in cancer survival.
	Survival analyses based on complete follow up of patients for five years from diagnosis will be possible for those diagnosed up to 1996. As follow up is not yet available beyond 2001, a recently developed statistical method, "period" survival, will be used to estimate the five-year survival for patients diagnosed up to 1999.
	The results, which will be published later this year, will provide robust and up-to-date evidence on changes in survival during the 1990s.

Capita

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many meetings (a) he and his Ministers, (b) Treasury special advisers and (c) Treasury officials have had with Capita employees and members of the Capita Board since May 2001; what the purpose of each meeting was; and if he will make a statement.

Ruth Kelly: As with previous Administrations, and in line with Exemption 7 of the "Code of Practice on Access to Government Information", it is not this Government's normal practice to release details of specific meetings or their content, as some of these discussions may have taken place on a confidential basis. All such contacts are conducted in accordance with the rules set out in the "Ministerial Code", the "Civil Service Code", and "Guidance for Civil Servants: Contacts with Lobbyists". Copies of these documents are available in the Libraries of the House.

Child Tax Credit

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the total budgetary provision is for the introduction of the new Child Tax Credit in each of the first three years of its operation, broken down by (a) the budgetary provision for payment of the estimated sums due to recipients, (b) the promotional and advertising costs associated with the Child Tax Credit and (c) the publishing costs of documentation sent to potential applicants.

Dawn Primarolo: holding answer 13 February 2003
	The answer is as follows.
	(a) The budgetary provision for payments for the Child Tax Credit is £8.3 billion in 2003–04, £11.7 billion in 2004–05 and £13.1 billion in 2005–06.
	(b) The promotional and advertising costs associated with the Child Tax Credit cannot be separated from the costs for the Working Tax Credit. For promotional and advertising costs for both credits, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Havant (Mr. Willetts) on 15 October 2002, column 603W. Since the question was answered, further spending on promoting and advertising the new tax credits means that current expenditure stands at about £9.75 million.
	(c) The current cost of sending out claim packs to potential applicants is approximately £400,000.

Crown Estate

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to review the tax regime pertaining to the Crown Estate.

Dawn Primarolo: There are no plans to change these arrangements.

Debt Relief

John Robertson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with developing countries on (a) the future of debt relief and (b) the proposed international finance facility.

John Healey: The UK remains at the forefront of the international debate on debt relief and continues to promote the implementation of the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative. The Chancellor discusses debt relief issues in a wide range of international meetings with representatives of developing countries. For example, on 24–26 September 2002 the UK hosted the Commonwealth Finance Ministers meeting that included a Commonwealth HIPC ministerial forum. Debt relief and the HIPC initiative will also be discussed at the forthcoming spring meetings of the IMF and World Bank.
	On 27 November 2002 the Chancellor announced in his pre-budget report that he had written as Chairman of the International Monetary and Finance Committee to all fellow Finance Ministers, and to the World Bank and United Nations about the international finance facility.
	On 23 January 2003 the Chancellor and the Secretary of State for International Development published a document on the UK's proposal for the international finance facility. The Chancellor and Secretary of State have written to their counterparts in developing countries enclosing a copy of the proposal document.

Departmental Annual Reports

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it compulsory for departmental annual reports to include a full statement of accounts.

Paul Boateng: Under the Government Resource and Accounts Act 2000, the Treasury must lay departmental resource accounts before the House of Commons no later than 31 January of the financial year following that to which they relate. Departments are currently required to publish their accounts either on the day their accounts are laid or as shortly as possible thereafter. There are no plans to reproduce the accounts in the spring departmental reports.

Departmental Computer Systems

Steve Webb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which computer systems within his Department use XML.

Ruth Kelly: The following live computer systems make use of XML:
	In HM Treasury
	a) The departmental finance and purchasing system (name of system is ABACUS)
	b) The main Treasury website.
	In the Office for National Statistics
	c) The Business Surveys sub-system that handles faxed replies from contributors.
	d) The system which supplies information to the TSO for the government wide 'Information Asset Register'
	e) The English Housing Conditions Survey system.
	In the Inland Revenue
	For external (customer) and Inter-governmental communications in these systems :
	f) New Tax Credits
	g) Corporation Tax
	h) PAYE
	i) Self Assessment
	j) Government Gateway Authentication and Communication
	k) NIRS
	And for internal communication and storage in:
	l) Self Assessment
	m) New Tax Credits
	n) NIRS
	o) Software Frameworks
	p) Call Centre Programme
	q) GovRules
	r) IR Intranet
	In the HMCE
	For communication with the Government Gateway in the following systems
	s) Trader Registration
	t) New Export System and in the following other systems:
	u) e-aggregates
	v) Climate Change levy
	w) CHIEF printing
	x) New Computerised Transit System

Diesel

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proposals have been made by the European Commission to harmonise the taxation of diesel fuel for transport by all modes; whether that includes marine use at sea, in estuaries, on rivers and canals, for both commercial and leisure use; what consultations have taken place with interested persons or bodies; what reports have been published by the Government; and whether a decision in the Council of Ministers is by two-thirds majority vote.

John Healey: The only European Commission proposal for full harmonisation of duty rates for diesel fuel used in transport relates to diesel fuel used by lorries over 16 tonnes, buses and coaches. The proposal is that member states should bring their duty rates for such diesel closer together to reach a harmonised rate by 2010 of Euro350 per 1,000 litres, although that rate would be uprated in line with inflation. The Government have submitted an Explanatory Memorandum on this proposal (reference 11571/02 dated 26 September 2002), which set out our opposition to it. That opposition is shared by nearly all member states, so the directive cannot be adopted in its present form, as any decisions taken by the Council of Ministers on matters of taxation have to be unanimous.
	The only European Commission proposal relating to duty on diesel fuel for marine use is the proposed directive on taxation of energy products. This would generally continue the existing duty treatment of diesel fuel for marine use in the mineral oils structures directive. It provides for a compulsory exemption for diesel fuel used for navigation in Community waters (although it would allow member states to limit the exemption to international and intra-Community transport) and for an optional exemption for diesel fuel used for navigation in inland waterways. In both cases, private pleasure craft are excluded from these exemptions, but the United Kingdom's derogation from the existing directive, allowing the United Kingdom to exempt fuel for private pleasure craft until 31 December 2006, will be unaffected. The Government have submitted a supplementary Memorandum on the latest version of the proposal (reference 13422/02, FISC 266, dated 26 November 2002). This directive will support efforts to deal with the significant environmental problems arising from global warming, which requires cross-border action. This proposal also cannot be adopted in its present form without unanimous agreement by the Council of Ministers.

Duty Diversion Fraud

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many customs officials have been (a) investigated and (b) interviewed regarding their participation in duty diversion fraud for each year from 1994 to 2002.

John Healey: The Internal Investigation Division [IID] is responsible within HM Customs and Excise for staff irregularity matters. The division was created in the autumn of 2000. From that date the IID has held all central records relating to investigations of staff irregularity matters. Prior to the establishment of the IID, no central records were held.
	As at 11 February 2003, its records show no customs officials as having been investigated and/or interviewed, by the police or internally, regarding their participation in duty diversion fraud.

Energy Efficiency

David Chaytor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to introduce enhanced capital allowances to encourage the purchase of (a) the most efficient domestic central heating systems and (b) energy saving products by (i) registered social landlords and (ii) energy service companies.

John Healey: Budget 2001 introduced 100 per cent first-year enhanced capital allowances (ECAs) for designated energy-saving plant and machinery. The ECA scheme enables businesses to write-off the whole cost of their investment in designated energy-saving equipment against the taxable profits of the period during which the investment is made.
	Registered Social Landlords are non profit-making organisations and as such will not be able to claim capital allowances.
	In the commercial sector, energy service companies can claim ECAs on their spending on qualifying equipment and special rules enable them to claim allowances where, as part of a comprehensive energy services agreement, they provide equipment that becomes a fixture on another person's land in which they have no interest.
	The Government's Affordable Warmth Programme supports the installation of modern energy efficient central heating systems in low-income homes, including registered social landlord homes. The equipment is leased to the landlord and where the equipment is designated energy-saving equipment, special rules enable the lessor to claim the enhanced capital allowances. The benefit can be passed on in the form of lower rentals.
	The Government consulted on economic instruments to improve household energy efficiency during 2002 and a summary of responses has been published on the HMT website. PBR 2002 stated that the Government would consult further on specific measures to promote greater energy efficiency by households, once the responses to the initial consultation have been fully considered.

Energy Efficiency

David Chaytor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how the price in real terms paid by the domestic consumer has changed since 1997 for the purchase of (a) domestic electricity and gas, (b) insulation materials, (c) high efficiency boilers, (d) draught-proofing, (e) double glazing and (f) low energy light-bulbs.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. David Chaytor, dated 24 February 2003
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking for the change in price in real terms since 1997 of (a) domestic electricity and gas, (b) insulation materials, (c) high efficiency boilers, (d) draught-proofing, (e) double glazing and (f) low energy light-bulbs. (98666)
	The Office for National Statistics publishes separate sub-indices of the Retail Prices Index for domestic electricity and gas, but not for any of the other items to which you refer.
	The following table gives the index numbers relating to the relevant sub-indices for domestic electricity and gas and for the All Items RPI. The figures are for the annual average for 1997 and for January 2003 (the most recently published), together with the corresponding percentage change.
	
		
			  Average 1997 index January 2003 index Percentage change 
		
		
			 All items RPI 157.5 178.4 +13.% 
			 Electricity 140.0 128.9 -7.9% 
			 Gas 123.1 126.4 +2.7% 
		
	
	Between the 1997 average and January 2003 the electricity index fell by 7.9% whilst the gas index rose by 2.7%. In contrast the All Items RPI increased by 13.3%.

Euro

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the answer of 30 January 2003, Official Report, column 991W, on the euro, whether the issue of single European currency has been discussed during meetings between Government officials and representatives of Gibraltar; which Government officials are responsible for liaison with officials from Guernsey; what issues have been discussed by Government officials with representatives of Jersey; and when the most recent discussion between Government officials and representatives of the Isle of Man was.

Ruth Kelly: I refer the hon. Member to my answer to him on 30 January 2003, Official Report, column 991W.

Euro

David Drew: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many investigations his Department is undertaking into the five tests for the euro.

Ruth Kelly: The 6 September 2002 Paper for the Treasury Committee set out that a number of supporting studies will be published alongside the assessment of the five tests. On 12 February 2003, Official Report, column 884, the Chancellor of the Exchequer made clear that an additional four studies will be published.

Euro

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the meetings he has had with the Prime Minister (a) in the last month and (b) regarding the UK's entry into the Euro currency zone in the last month.

Ruth Kelly: The Chancellor meets regularly with the Prime Minister to discuss a wide range of issues.

Fair Trade Fortnight

David Drew: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps his Department is taking to promote Fair Trade Fortnight.

Ruth Kelly: My right hon. Friend strongly supports the work of the Fair Trade Foundation in helping the poorest people in developing countries to benefit more from trade. The range of fair trade beverages already on offer in the Treasury's Restaurant and Coffee Shop will be extended during Fair Trade Fortnight, and fair trade confectionery products will also be available.

Gibraltar

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether minutes of meetings between his Department's officials and representatives from Gibraltar are published.

Dawn Primarolo: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 11 February 2002, Official Report, columns 114–15W.

Gross Domestic Product

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 10 February 2003, Official Report, column 607W, on gross domestic product, if he will publish the research used to make the assumption that trend output growth is ¼ percentage point lower than the Government's neutral view.

Ruth Kelly: The Treasury's analysis of the rate of trend growth in output is set out in "Trend Growth: Recent Developments and Prospects" (HM Treasury, April 2002), which is available online at www.hm-treasury.gov.uk.
	For the purposes of the public finances projections the Government adopt a deliberately cautious assumption for trend growth that is ¼ percentage point below its neutral view. In the interests of stability and robust, medium-term fiscal planning, this strikes the right balance between being a reasonable and a cautious assumption.
	As set out in paragraph B20 of the 2002 pre-Budget report, over the period to 2006–07 this gives rise to an assumed rate of 2½ per cent: the Comptroller and Auditor General has audited this assumption and concluded that it is "reasonable and cautious".

Health Cash Plans

David Amess: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether Ministers in his Department have met non-profit distributing health cash plan providers to discuss the recent decision of the Inland Revenue to change the tax treatment of health cash plan providers; what changes in the constitutional governance and trading practices of such providers gave rise to the change in their assessed status; and when those changes arose.

John Healey: Ministers have had no meetings to discuss the tax treatment of health cash plan providers.
	The Inland Revenue's inquiries into the tax returns of non-profit distributing health cash plan providers concluded that they were not meeting all the conditions for mutual trading and their mutual status for tax purposes was not justified. However, the Inland Revenue did not consider any changes of the sort described.

Health Cash Plans

Patsy Calton: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of how many individuals make contributions to health cash plans operated by non-profit-distributing organisations; and what assessment he has made of the impact on the charitable giving policies of such funds of recent changes in their tax treatment.

John Healey: Inquiries by the Inland Revenue discovered that health cash plan providers were not meeting all the conditions for mutual trading and their mutual status for tax purposes was not justified.
	No estimate has been made of the number of contributors.
	No assessment has been made of the impact of these changes which depend largely on decisions taken by individual health cash plan providers.

Health Cash Plans

David Drew: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  if he will make a statement on the impact on NHS projects that have previously received donations from not-for-profit providers of health cash plans of the changes resulting from the proposed introduction of corporation tax on operating surpluses;
	(2)  if he will make a statement on what assessment he has made of the impact on those individuals who are contributing towards health cash plans of the proposals of the Treasury to impose corporation tax on operating surpluses.

John Healey: Health cash plan providers were exempt from corporation tax as they were regarded formally as trading mutually.
	Following a review in 2000, the Inland Revenue concluded that these organisations did not meet all the conditions for mutual trading and their exemption was therefore withdrawn for the future. However, individual providers had the option of changing their rules so that they could continue to benefit from the tax exemption. Where organisations have taken this option, the Revenue has accepted them as being mutual throughout.
	No assessment has been made of the impact of these changes.

Health Cash Plans

David Drew: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on why the Treasury launched a review of the tax treatment of health cash plans; and how he estimates this will impact on (a) policy holders and (b) recipients of charitable donations from those plans.

John Healey: The Inland Revenue has a right to inquire into any Self Assessment return, including those of health cash plan providers.
	An inquiry into one of these organisations discovered that the conditions of mutual trading were not being met and therefore their mutual status was not legally valid and had to be withdrawn for tax purposes.
	Further inquiries were subsequently carried out into the tax returns of other such organisations by the Inland Revenue. The Treasury conducted no review.
	The Inland Revenue has to apply the law as it stands to ensure that organisations do not have favoured treatment to which they are strictly not entitled.
	No assessment has been made of the impact of these changes, which depend largely on decisions taken by individual health cash plan providers.

Health Cash Plans

David Drew: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether representatives from the Treasury met representatives of the health cash plan industry to discuss the impact of proposed changes in health cash plans which will involve the introduction of corporation tax on their operating surpluses.

John Healey: Neither Ministers nor officials from the Treasury have held such a meeting. However, Inland Revenue officials have met with the British Health Care Association.

Health Cash Plans

David Drew: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the NHS projects that have received donations from not-for-profit providers of health cash plans in the latest year for which figures are available.

John Healey: The information requested is not available.

Income Tax (Nottingham)

Graham Allen: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many low earning income tax payers in Nottingham have benefited from the 10 per cent. starting rate of income tax.

Dawn Primarolo: In Nottingham, it is estimated that 15,000 taxpayers now pay tax at the starting rate of 10 pence. However all income tax payers with taxable earnings will have benefited from the 10 per cent. band.

Independent Financial Advisers

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what research he has commissioned into professional indemnity insurance requirements of independent financial advisers beyond 2003; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  pursuant to his answer of 10 February, Official Report, column 602W, on independent financial advisers, if he will make a statement concerning the professional indemnity insurance requirements of independent financial advisers.

Ruth Kelly: The Financial Services Authority tell me that they are continuing to monitor the market for professional indemnity insurance for independent financial advisers.
	The results of the FSA work to date are set out in their Consultation Paper 169, "Professional Indemnity Insurance for personal investment firms—consultation on rule changes; and discussion of other policy options", which they issued on 3 February 2003.
	Practitioners, and others with views, should respond to the FSA consultation.

Iraq

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions his Department has had with the Ministry of Defence on (a) the duration of a possible war in the Middle East and (b) its effects on (i) the performance of the UK economy and (ii) the public sector finances.

Paul Boateng: The information is as follows:
	(a) My Department is in continuous discussion with MOD on a range of issues. These include discussions on military contingency planning. Such planning for events in the Middle East includes the means to avert conflict through the credible threat of force in support of UNSCR 1441 and the weapons inspection process.
	(b) The Treasury monitors global developments that affect UK economic performance. An updated assessment of economic prospects, including public finances, will be published in the Budget.

Iraq

Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what financial provision he has made for the costs of UK participation in military action against Iraq.

Paul Boateng: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Eddisbury (Mr. O'Brien) and my hon. Friend the Member for Linlithgow (Mr. Dalyell) on 20 February.

IT Contracts

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many and by how much Government Departments have overspent on their IT contracts since 1997.

Paul Boateng: The information requested is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

IT Contracts

Jonathan Sayeed: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list IT contracts in his Department above £50 million in each of the last 10 years; what the inception date for each system was; when it became fully functional; when it became fully debugged; and what the cost of over-runs has been.

Ruth Kelly: Of the Chancellor's Departments, only the following have let IT contracts above £50 million in the last 10 years.
	1. Inland Revenue
	IR currently has major contracts with two strategic technology partners, EDS and Accenture, to provide its IT systems and support, including development and maintenance. It also has a framework contract with Computacenter for the supply of IT equipment and software.
	(i) The IT services contract was let to EDS in 1994 for 10 years and is worth £2.4 billion over its lifetime, with an estimated £300 million to £400 million annual expenditure. The contract is input based (i.e. time and materials, not system specific). Its complex charging and price capping mechanism means that details of systems delivered through this contract could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	(ii) The NIRS 2 contract for operational services was awarded to Andersen Consulting (now Accenture) in May 1995 with an initial scheduled implementation in February 1997. The third phase of the project, introduced in July 1998, was not signed off as fully functional until April 2000. Compensation of £4.1 million was paid by the supplier for this delay. Significant Government and legislative changes resulted in the NIRS 2 contract being extended in April 2000 and the contract now runs to 2004.
	2. HM Customs and Excise
	HM Customs and Excise (HMCE) has let only one IT Contract in excess of £50 million in the past 10 years. The contract was awarded to Fujitsu C&E Services Ltd. under the Private Finance Initiative in 1999. The contract is for the provision of an outsourced IT and telephony infrastructure. The inception date was 25 August 1999 (the date the contract was signed). The date when it became fully functional is deemed as 'Transfer of Undertaking', 1 April 2000, when the infrastructure and associated staff were transferred to Fujitsu Customs and Excise Services Ltd. As this is an IT Infrastructure service there was no debugging element and the Transfer of Undertaking date was achieved to target without any overrun.

Lisbon and Stockholm Objectives

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his answer of 10 February 2003, Official Report, columns 611–13W, on Lisbon and Stockholm objectives, whether officials in his Department expressed an opinion on proposals for reforms of listing rules in such discussions; and if he will make a statement.

Ruth Kelly: The Financial Services Authority (FSA), in its role as United Kingdom Listings Authority, has sole responsibility for setting the listing rules under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000. The FSA are currently conducting a review of the listings rules. To help with this process, it has established a consultative committee, made up of representatives of companies and City bodies and institutions. The Treasury is represented on this committee with observer status.

Lisbon and Stockholm Objectives

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his answer of 10 February 2003, Official Report, columns 609–11W, on Lisbon and Stockholm objectives, whether he will include in the next progress report on developments in European economic reform a section listing the progress made in meeting the Lisbon and Stockholm objectives.

Ruth Kelly: The progress report on European economic reform, 'Meeting the Challenge; Economic Reform in Europe', was published on 17 February 2003, and describes progress made in meeting the Lisbon and Stockholm objectives.

Lisbon and Stockholm Objectives

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his answer of 10 February, Official Report, columns 609–11W, on Lisbon and Stockholm Objectives, when he will publish a progress report on developments in European economic reform.

Ruth Kelly: The progress report on European economic reform, 'Meeting the Challenge; Economic Reform in Europe', was published on 17 February 2003. Copies are available in the Vote Office and the Library of the House.

Meetings

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  whether minutes of meetings between his Department's officials and representatives from the Isle of Man are published;
	(2)  whether meetings between officials for his Department and representatives of Jersey are held on Jersey;
	(3)  how often Treasury officials meet representatives from Gibraltar; and whether meetings are held purely when deemed necessary;
	(4)  what his Department's policy is regarding consultation with representatives of Guernsey on economic decisions that could potentially affect Guernsey.

Dawn Primarolo: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 11 February 2002, Official Report, columns 114–15W.

Minimum Wage (Nottingham)

Graham Allen: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people in Nottingham, North are on the minimum wage.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Graham Allen dated 24 February 2003
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question about the number of individuals in the Nottingham North parliamentary constituency on the National Minimum Wage (NMW). (98322)
	Estimates for Parliamentary Constituencies are not available.
	The Office for National Statistics (ONS) calculates estimates of the number of jobs paid less than NMW rates for the United Kingdom and Government Office Regions. A guide to measuring low pay and associated articles and data can be found on the National Statistics website at:
	http://www.statistics.gov.uk/CCl/nugget.asp?lD=188&Pos= 44&ColRank=l&Rank=208.

Mobile Phones

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how many mobile phones have been used and at what cost by (a) himself and Ministers in his Department, (b) Special Advisers in his Department and (c) his departmental officials in each year since 1997;
	(2)  how many mobile phones used by (a) himself, his Ministers of State, and Parliamentary Under-Secretaries of State, (b) his Department's Special Advisers and (c) his Department officials have been listed as lost or stolen on an annual basis since 1997.

Ruth Kelly: Comprehensive information about mobile phone costs is not available in the form requested.
	Information on thefts of mobile phones is not disaggregated, although the global costs to the Treasury of theft and fraud for the last five years were given in my answers of 21 January 2002, Official Report, column 651W and 27 January 2003, Official Report, column 611W.

Money Laundering

Paul Tyler: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his answer of 11 February 2003, Official Report, column 651W, whether discussions with the Law Society about the new money laundering regulation, and the EU second money laundering directive, have taken full account of the matters raised in the solicitors tribunal hearing in the matter of Sir Gerrard Anthony Neale on October 2002.

Ruth Kelly: The Treasury have been in consultation with the Law Society about the form of the proposed money laundering regulations 2003, which will implement the second EU directive on money laundering. The Treasury understand that the Society has already issued interim guidance to solicitors and is in the process of preparing detailed guidance on the application of the new regime to solicitors.
	This case did not feature in the Law Society submissions or discussions.

Secondments

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many individuals are loaned to HM Treasury from private accounting firms; how long the secondment is of each one; and what their responsibilities are.

Ruth Kelly: There are currently three people seconded into HM Treasury from private accounting firms.
	
		
			 Date Duties 
		
		
			 2 January 2002 to 30 June 2003 (18 months) Finance Regulation and Industry Directorate—Head of Public Enterprise Partnership Team 
			 24 September 2001 to 23 September 2003 (2 Years) Budget and Public Finance Directorate—Advice on Tax policy 
			 22 July 2002 to 21 July 2004 (2 years) Financial Management, Reporting and Audit Directorate—Central Accountancy

Special Purpose Vehicles

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will impose a special tax on special purpose vehicles sold by tax advisers for tax avoidance purposes.

John Healey: The Government have demonstrated their strong commitment to combating tax avoidance by countering it with legislation on over 40 separate occasions since 1997. They continue to keep the tax system under review and have already announced their intention to legislate to counter a number of tax avoidance schemes in the forthcoming Finance Bill.

Spending Review

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will update Table 1.3, page 16, of the 2002 Spending Review (Cm. 5570) to show changes to budgets and expenditure allocations made since the publication of this document; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Boateng: Table B15 in the pre-budget report shows equivalent information. An updated table B15 will be published in this year's financial statement and budget report.

Spending Review

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will announce the results of the next spending review; which years that will cover; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Boateng: Spending plans for the financial years 2003–4 to 2005–6 were set out in the July 2002 Spending Review White Paper. Spending reviews are normally held every two years.

Student Work Placements

Graham Allen: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many university students his Department and associated agencies have supported or sponsored with a work placement in the last year; what his policy is on work placements; what plans he has to develop such schemes; and what his policy is on paying their university fees.

Ruth Kelly: A total of 104 university students undertook a work or training placement in one of the Chancellor's Departments and agencies in the last year 1 .
	Under the Civil Service Commissioners Code, policies and plans on recruitment and work placements are delegated to individual departments and agencies. For example, these range from a plan by HM Treasury to continue to provide 'sandwich' work placements for students studying for economics or IT degrees, and to offer two summer development training placements in 2003; to plans by the Inland Revenue to offer up to 40 summer development training placements, four Windsor Fellowship placements, two placements for disabled students, and 10 internship placements this summer.
	The Chancellor's departments and agencies do not contribute towards university fees, but provide paid work placements instead.
	1 The answer includes figures from HM Treasury, Inland Revenue, Customs and Excise, Office of Government Commerce, Debt Management Office, Valuation Office, Government Actuary's Department, Department of National Savings and Investments, and the Office of National Statistics, for students who began their placements during the period February 2002 to February 2003.

Tax Revenue Forecasts

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his answer of 10 February 2003, Official Report, column 607W, what plans he has to make forecasts of total tax revenues associated with GDP growth rates which fall outside his Department's GDP growth forecasts made in the pre-Budget report.

Ruth Kelly: In accordance with the requirements of the Code for Fiscal Stability, an interim forecast update, including projections for current revenues, was presented in the 2002 pre-Budget report. Projections will also be published in the forthcoming Budget.
	There are no plans to make forecasts for total tax revenues associated with GDP growth rates that fall outside the forecast range. However, as set out in paragraph B17 of the 2002 pre-Budget report, if GDP growth were one percentage point higher than assumed over the coming year, public sector net borrowing might be approximately 0.5 percentage points lower in the current year and a further 0.2 percentage points lower in the following year.

Telephone Call Prices

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the potential loss in tax revenue resulting from lower telephone call prices following the Competition Commission Report on mobile termination charges.

John Healey: It is not possible to estimate the impact for the Exchequer as this will depend on the commercial decisions of the companies affected.

Unemployment (Nottingham)

Graham Allen: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what change there has been in the unemployed totals in Nottingham, North since June 1997.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Graham Allen dated 24 February 2003
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about unemployment in Nottingham North. (98320)
	The Office for National Statistics (ONS) compiles unemployment statistics from the Labour Force Survey following the internationally standard International LabourOrganisation definition. For Parliamentary Constituencies, information about unemployment rates, but not levels, is available. This information is available on a yearly basis, but not for calendar months. The unemployment rate for the Nottingham North Constituency decreased by 7.6 percentage points from 15.6 per cent in the twelve months ending February 1998 down to 8.0 per cent in the twelve month period ending February 2002.
	ONS also compiles statistics of claimants of unemployment-related benefits. The number of people in the Nottingham North Constituency claiming Jobseeker's Allowance decreased by 1,349 from 3,947 in June 1997 down to 2,598 in January 2003.

Working Families Tax Credit

Ann Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people in the Dewsbury area (a) are eligible for the working family tax credit and (b) have benefited from the working family tax credit in the last year for which figures are available.

Ruth Kelly: Information about the numbers eligible for working families tax credit (WFTC) is not available by constituency or by local authority.
	The number of recipients of WFTC and disabled person's tax credit in each local authority and in each constituency are shown in "Working Families' and Disabled Person's Tax Credit Statistics. Geographical analyses" for each quarter. Copies are on the Inland Revenue website, www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk.

Working Families Tax Credit

Graham Allen: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many (a) families and (b) individuals in Nottingham benefit from the working families tax credit.

Dawn Primarolo: The number of families with children in each local authority receiving Working Families Tax Credit or Disabled Person's Tax Credit in each quarter is shown in "Working Families' and Disabled Person's Tax Credit Statistics: Geographical analyses", which is available on the web site www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk. This also shows how many of these families are headed by lone parents, the rest being headed by couples, and the number of dependent children in the families.

NORTHERN IRELAND

A2

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what priority is being given to upgrading the A2 between Carrickfergus and Jordanstown, Co Antrim; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Smith: I have asked the Chief Executive of Roads Service to write to the hon. Gentleman in response to this question. A copy of the letter is attached and will be placed in the Library.

Airport Police

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to the answer of 11 February 2003, Official Report, column 681W, on airport police, if he has taken into account his powers under Article 19 of the Airports (Northern Ireland) Order 1994 in relation to the Government's consideration of the contents and recommendations of Sir John Wheeler's report into policing at UK airports.

Jane Kennedy: Sir John's report acknowledges the powers that the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has in terms of authorising an airport operator to appoint constables at an airport, and cites Belfast International Airport as an example of this. We await the initiatives that emerge from the outworking of Sir John's findings and recommendations.

Employment Discrimination

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what research the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland plans to fund concerning the causes and appropriate policy response to the employment and unemployment differential between Catholics and Protestants.

Des Browne: The Equality Commission for Northern Ireland plans to fund research in 2003–04 into economic activity given the evidence in the Labour Force Survey of differential rates of activity of Protestants and Roman Catholics in Northern Ireland.
	The commission plans to utilise the results of the 2001 Population Census to review the comparative labour market position of Protestants and Roman Catholics in terms of:
	employment/unemployment/economic inactivity
	occupation and
	industrial sector.
	This research will be carried out following release of cross tabulations of Census data by the Department of Finance and Personnel. Release of the census data is expected by March 2003 (approximately) and the review will be completed by March 2004.
	The Equality Commission has also been encouraging employers to make use of the facility provided by the Fair Employment and Treatment (Northern Ireland) Order 1998 to recruit from those not in employment.

Fair Employment and Treatment Order

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what research the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland is funding concerning the effectiveness of the Fair Employment and Treatment Order 1998; and what proportion this represents of the total research budget of the commission for 2002–03.

Des Browne: The commission is currently undertaking research which will consider:
	patterns and trends in employment;
	effectiveness of the affirmative action provisions in the Fair Employment and Treatment (Northern Ireland) Order 1998; and
	the contextual framework e.g. feminisation of workforce, increased flexible working arrangements and changing educational outcomes.
	These research findings will be published in June 2004.
	The costs of this project, including publication of the results, will be spread across 2002–03, 2003–04 and 2004–05. A significant element of the research has or will be undertaken without charge to Equality Commission for Northern Ireland. Therefore, reflecting the proportion of the commission's research budget invested in the project is not appropriate.

Fair Employment and Treatment Order

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many investigations the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland is undertaking that concern compliance with the Fair Employment and Treatment Order 1998; and what proportion this represents of the total investigations budget of the Commission for 2002–3.

Des Browne: The Fair Employment and Treatment (Northern Ireland) Order 1998 enables the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland to conduct investigations for the purpose of assisting it to promote equality of opportunity. The Commission is not at present conducting any investigations under the Order.
	The Fair Employment and Treatment (Northern Ireland) Order 1998 places duties on employers with regard to registration and the monitoring and review of employment composition and practices. There is a high level of employer compliance with these duties.

Fair Employment and Treatment Order

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many cases concerning an alleged breach of the Fair Employment and Treatment Order 1998 the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland is supporting financially; how many it supported in each year since 1999; and what proportion this represents of the total 2002–03 budget for supporting discrimination claims on all grounds.

Des Browne: In the 2002–03 financial year (up to 14 February 2003) the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland has approved support for 249 cases alleging a breach of the Fair Employment and Treatment (Northern Ireland) Order 1998.
	Since April 1999 the Equality Commission has supported the following number of cases alleging a breach of the Fair Employment and Treatment Order 1998:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 April 1999-March 2000 123 
			 April 2000-March 2001 149 
			 April 2001-March 2002 291 
			 April 2002-February 2003 249 
		
	
	Claims alleging a breach of the Fair Employment and Treatment (Northern Ireland) Order 1998 for which invoices have been received during the first 10 months of the financial year 2002–03 account for 33 per cent. of the overall legal programme spend on supporting discrimination claims on all grounds. Invoices received and paid in 2002–03 will include costs associated with previous years' approvals.

Firearms (Security Personnel)

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on which occasions Belfast International Airport officers have undergone the procedures to re-classify in relation to the carrying and use of firearms since the privatisation of the airport in 1994; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: The dates on which officers from Belfast International Airport have received firearms/reclassification training since privatisation in 1994 are:
	1995
	February 2, 6, 7 and 9
	November 13, 15, 16 and 20
	1996
	April 24, 25, 29 and 30
	November 11, 13, 14 and 18
	1997
	Nil
	1998
	June 2, 9, 16 and 23
	1999
	Nil
	2000
	March 16, 28 and 30
	2001
	May 23 and 30
	June 6 and 13
	2002
	May and July
	2003
	To be arranged.

Hospitality Association of Northern Ireland

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much public funding, including European grant aid was allocated to the Hospitality Association of Northern Ireland between 1995 and 1999; and which agencies allocated the funding.

Jane Kennedy: (a) Hospitality Association of Northern Ireland (HANI) received European funding from the Tourism and Hospitality Training Council (THTC) acting as an agent for the Training and Employment Agency (now Department for Employment and Learning (DEL) as follows:
	
		
			 Project £ 
		
		
			 1. Training Resource Library 4,850.00 
			 2. Multiskilling Programme 73,936.17 
			 3. Multiskilling Programme 2 84,337.88 
			 4. International Culinary Olympics, Berlin 1996 12,129.66 
			 5. SELECT 220,935.04 
		
	
	(b) HANI received the following European funding from the Northern Ireland Tourist Board (NITB) (which is part of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment) under the NITB Marketing Support Scheme:
	NITB Marketing Support Scheme £36,418.82
	(c) HANI received funding from Department for Employment and Learning for sectoral training courses as follows:
	Hospitality and Catering Management Projects £179,830.
	(d) HANI received contractual payments as a provider to the Jobskills programme:
	Jobskills £251,052.45.

Independent International Commission Decommissioning

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much public funding has been provided for the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning, broken down by (a) categories of expenses, (b) salaries for members, (c) expenses and salaries for staff, (d) accommodation, (e) other payments made to those acting on behalf of the Commission and (f) payments made to those meeting the Commission.

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 
	(1)  how much money has been spent in respect of the remuneration of each of the members of the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning in each year since its formation;
	(2)  how much expenditure has been incurred by Her Majesty's Government in respect of travel by each member of the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning in each year since its formation.

Jane Kennedy: The Government does not hold the information in the form requested. However, the Commission has agreed to make available copies of its audited accounts. Copies of these have been placed in the Library.

Local Government Finance

David Burnside: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what consultation took place with local government representatives on the implications of the new formulae for distributing financial support to local councils through the general grant.

Angela Smith: Consultation on proposals for a new formula for the distribution of the resources element of general grant to district councils took place with a wide range of interests including local government representatives between 1 September and 13 November 2000, to consider initial suggestions, and, subsequently, on more detailed proposals, between 21 September and 17 December 2001. This was followed by consultation on the draft primary legislation between 10 and 23 May 2002 and between 19 September and 21 October 2002 on the draft regulations which give effect to the new formula.
	During consultation on the proposals the Department of the Environment arranged a workshop for members of the Association of Local Government Finance Officers. Presentations were also made to the Northern Ireland Assembly's Environment Committee; individual MLAs; the National Association of Councillors, and to individual district councils, as requested. Members of the Department of the Environment's Finance Working Group, which includes representatives of the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives, the Association of Local Government Finance Officers and Local Government Audit, were regularly informed about developments relating to the new formula.

Local Government Finance

David Burnside: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the level of the reduction to the general grant was notified to the affected local councils.

Angela Smith: All 26 district councils were advised on 23 December 2002 of their allocations of general grant for 2003–04 under the new statutory formula for calculating the resources element of general grant. The new formula applies from 1 April 2003.

Local Government Finance

David Burnside: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the change of the general grant proposed for 2003–04 is as a proportion of the budget of the councils affected for 2002–03.

Angela Smith: General grant has two elements—a resources element and a derating element. The proposed changes in the resources element of general grant for 2003–04 are expressed as a percentage of district councils' estimated expenditure for 2002–03, in the table. Complete information on the proposed changes in the derating element in 2003–04 will not be available until the end of March 2003.
	
		
			 District council Percentage change from 2002–03 to 2003–04 
		
		
			 Antrim Borough Council No grant 
			 Ards Borough Council -0.43 
			 Armagh City and District Council -4.41 
			 Ballymena Borough Council No grant 
			 Ballymoney Borough Council + 0.40 
			 Banbridge District Council -1.53 
			 Belfast City Council No grant 
			 Carrickfergus Borough Council -11.08 
			 Castlereagh Borough Council No grant 
			 Coleraine Borough Council No grant 
			 Cookstown District Council + 7.76 
			 Craigavon Borough Council -0.45 
			 Derry City Council + 2.90 
			 Down District Council -3.49 
			 Dungannon and South Tyrone Borough Council + 5.90 
			 Fermanagh District Council + 9.30 
			 Larne Borough Council + 2.48 
			 Limavady Borough Council +5.22 
			 Lisburn City Council No grant 
			 Magherafelt District Council + 5.33 
			 Moyle District Council + 1.43 
			 Newry and Mourne District Council -7.45 
			 Newtownabbey Borough Council No grant 
			 North Down Borough Council No grant 
			 Omagh District Council + 7.00 
			 Strabane District Council + 2.81

Local Government Finance

David Burnside: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will be introducing transitional arrangements for the changes to the general grant.

Angela Smith: Yes. I intend to make available financial support to assist with the transition to the new statutory formula for calculating the resources element of general grant amounting to some £3 million over the next two financial years.

Plastic Bags

Eddie McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will take steps to introduce a levy on the use of plastic bags; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Smith: There are currently no plans to introduce a plastic bags tax. Instead, as the Chancellor said in his pre-Budget statement, the Government will be considering how the use of economic instruments can be extended to provide a more comprehensive and coherent framework for waste management more generally, as well as the scope for using other policies to tackle packaging and encourage producer responsibility. However, in both Northern Ireland and the United Kingdom generally, a number of positive steps are being taken to encourage a significant reduction in the use of plastic bags in order to protect the environment, decrease the amount of visible litter and reduce the volume of plastic bags going to landfill.
	A key element in achieving these results is to change consumer behaviour. In Northern Ireland, I am pleased to confirm that, following negotiations with representatives of the major supermarket chains, a Retail Charter was introduced in October last year. This charter takes a pro-active approach to educating both retailers and consumers in the application of sustainable environmental policies to their shopping habits, a message which has again been promoted in recent months, in the Department of the Environment's intensive 'Wake up to Waste' and 'Reduce, Reuse, Recycle' advertising campaigns.
	A further key step in changing a culture of indiscriminate use and disposal of plastic bags will be the forthcoming review of litter legislation, which will identify and address any shortcomings in the existing body of litter legislation in Northern Ireland.

Police Service

Jeffrey M Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many Roman Catholic applicants entered each recruitment competition since the formation of the Police Service of Northern Ireland.

Jane Kennedy: The numbers of Catholic applicants entering each recruitment competition for the Police Service of Northern Ireland to date are as follows:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 Competition 1 2,815 
			 Competition 2 1,891 
			 Competition 3 1,640 
			 Competition 4 1,480 
		
	
	These numbers consistently represent some 35 per cent. of the total applications in each of the four competitions.

Police Service

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to his answer of 11 February 2003, Official Report, column 683W, whether (a) the Special Branch Portal Unit and (b) the response unit from Strandtown PSNI station provided the initial presence at the arrest for drugs by Customs and Excise referred to in his reply; what the response time was; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: On 19 January 2003, personnel from the Special Branch Portal Unit were in attendance at the scene along with Customs and Excise personnel when the drugs arrest was made at Belfast City Airport. No assistance was required from PSNI at Strandtown.

Police Service

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to his answer of 11 February, Official Report, column 683W, on Belfast City Airport, whether (a) the Special Branch Portal Unit and (b) the response unit from Strandtown PSNI station provided the initial presence following the complaints of (i) the alleged assault in flight, (ii) three disruptive passengers and (iii) one drunk person; what the response time was in each case; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: In relation to each of these complaints the following action was taken:
	(i) Alleged assault in flight—Report of disturbance on BMI airbus, in-bound on 9 October 2002. PSNI Strandtown were contacted at 1305 hrs. Two tactical support group call signs and a PSNI Strandtown call sign were in attendance at the scene upon arrival of the flight at 1316hrs. Response time 11 minutes.
	(ii) Three disruptive passengers—On 12 July 2002, a person was reported drunk on board an in-bound FLYBE flight from Gatwick. Response requested from PSNI Strandtown at 1045 hrs and arrived at 1057 hrs, before the arrival of the flight. Response time 12 minutes.
	(iii) Drunk person—On 24 December 2002 there was a report of a drunken person in the terminal foyer. A PSNI Strandtown call sign was tasked at 2000 hrs and arrived at the scene at 2011 hrs. Response time 11 minutes.
	Personnel from Special Branch Portal Unit, Belfast City Airport, were also in attendance at the scene of these complaints prior to the arrival of police from PSNI Strandtown.

Police Service

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what procedures, tests, and exercises constitute the process by which PSNI officers reclassify in relation to use of firearms; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: The training comprises an introductory Health and Safety input, a refresher handling class, a live fire qualification shoot and an interactive lesson on Human Rights and Police Use of Firearms.

Pollution Directive

David Burnside: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the impact on Northern Ireland of the UK's non-implementation of the EU Directive on integrated pollution prevention and control rules; what representations he has made; what fines will be imposed; and what steps are being taken to rectify the situation.

Angela Smith: At present the Industrial Pollution Control (Northern Ireland) Order 1997 provides for an integrated approach to the control of pollution from industrial processes. This provides for a strong and effective system of control and has been successful in providing a better and cleaner environment.
	However, the United Kingdom also has an obligation to comply with EC Directive 96/91 on integrated pollution prevention and control, which provides for a similar system. The delay in the introduction of the transposing legislation in Northern Ireland has meant that the United Kingdom has been unable to meet fully its obligations. The Commission has therefore brought infraction proceedings against the UK.
	The necessary legislation has now been introduced in Northern Ireland with the introduction of the Environment (Northern Ireland) Order 2002 and the Pollution Prevention and Control Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003. The United Kingdom now takes the view that it has met fully its obligations to comply with the Directive.

Translink

David Burnside: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proportion of Translink's increased customer base, as set out in the latest edition of the Northern Ireland Road and Rail Transport Statistics Quarterly Bulletin, is accounted for by (a) paying customers, (b) those entitled to free travel, (c) new business and (d) ticket price increases.

Angela Smith: Translink has introduced a new integrated ticketing system on Citybus from 1 October 2001 and on Ulsterbus from 1 April 2002. The new system has not yet been implemented in Northern Ireland Railway hence information is not available to answer questions (a), nor is any information available which would identify new customers (question (c)).
	For question (b) it is estimated that the increase in patronage on Citybus is mostly attributable to over 65-year-olds who are entitled to free travel, while less than half of the increase on Ulsterbus resulted from the senior citizen market. It is not thought that there has been any increase in usage of the railways by the elderly sector who are entitled to free travel.
	For question (d) there was a 4.5 per cent. fares increase in public transport. Overall receipts increased by £0.9 million which was an increase of 6.6 per cent. over the period. Therefore 68 per cent. of the increase in receipts was due to ticket price increases.

Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on Northern Ireland's compliance with the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive.

Angela Smith: The number of works complying with the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive in Northern Ireland for the years 1999 to 2001 is:
	1999—8 out of a total of 15 complied—which gives a compliance rate of 53 per cent.
	2000—8 out of a total of 15 complied—which gives a compliance rate of 53 per cent.
	2001—13 out of a total of 37 complied—which gives a compliance rate of 35 per cent.
	The apparent fall in the rate of compliance between 2000 and 2001 reflects the phased introduction of targets under the UWWT Directive bringing more waste-water treatment works within its scope. For the year 2002, a total of 35 works have been assessed with the results still needing to be confirmed. However, the initial indication is that compliance is in the region of 50 per cent.—similar to 1999 and 2000.
	There is a legacy of under-funding of Northern Ireland's infrastructure. However, the upgrading of Northern Ireland's water and sewerage services to meet EU regulations is a high priority. Over £250 million will be invested on the waste-water infrastructure over the next three years. This increased level of investment has been made possible by the allocation of an additional £180 million for the wider water and sewerage services over the next three years, as was announced in the Budget statement in December 2002. In addition, DRD is actively considering with the Strategic Investment Board the potential for delivering a sizeable Public Private Partnership (PPP) programme which could include a number of wastewater treatment works, as part of the Strategic Investment Programme.
	This major increase in investment will deliver significant progress towards fall compliance with the Directive.

Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will reintroduce the moratorium on planning applications for developments that would (a) cause and (b) be likely to cause a breach of the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive.

Angela Smith: Last year planning applications in a number of areas in Northern Ireland were held on a temporary basis, as a precautionary measure, as a result of concerns expressed by the Department of the Environment's Environment and Heritage Service about the environmental compliance and pollution implications of further development. There was no moratorium on the determination of planning applications.
	Discussions took place between Environment and Heritage Service, Planning Service and Water Service and, as a result, Environment and Heritage Service and Water Service agreed an expanded and reprioritised Capital Works Programme to carry out the improvement works to the sewage treatment and sewerage systems necessary in order to ensure compliance with EU Directives and national standards. On the basis of the agreed programme, the Executive Committee of the Northern Ireland Assembly decided that planning applications that had been held on a precautionary basis and future planning applications in the locations affected would be processed to a conclusion. Dermot Nesbitt MLA announced the Executive Committee's decision in a statement to the Northern Ireland Assembly on 7 October 2002.
	It was agreed that the Department of the Environment and the Department for Regional Development would monitor the implementation of the capital works programme and compliance with the relevant environmental standards in order to allow the agreed approach to be reviewed, if necessary.
	There are no grounds for altering the policy approach agreed by the Executive Committee at this stage.

Water Service

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on whether Crown immunity is to continue for the Water Service of Northern Ireland.

Angela Smith: Water Service currently enjoys Crown Immunity from prosecution because it is an Executive Agency of a Central Government Department, the Department for Regional Development.
	On 11 December 2002, the Under-Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, my hon. Friend the Member for Dudley, South (Mr. Pearson) announced our intention to introduce self-financing arrangements for Water Service, which will require the introduction of domestic water and sewerage charges. I wish to ensure that water and sewerage services are delivered as efficiently and effectively as possible to ensure that future household charges are fair and affordable. This will require reform of the arrangements for the delivery of these services, and may require a change in the organisational status of Water Service.
	No decision has been taken on this issue yet, and I intend to engage in full and inclusive consultation on any proposals for change. However, should a decision be taken to move responsibility for the delivery of water and sewerage services outside Central Government, Crown Immunity would not continue for Water Service.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Cultural Identity

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when she last discussed with other EU Ministers for Culture the strengthening of a common cultural identity; and what measures are being taken for this purpose.

Richard Caborn: The Treaty establishing the European Community does not provide for strengthening a common cultural identity, but does encourage bringing the common cultural heritage to the fore while respecting regional and national diversity within the Member States. In order to achieve this the Council of Culture Ministers agreed the Council Resolution of 25 June 2002 on a new work plan on European co-operation in the field of culture. My right hon and noble Friend the Minister for the Arts attended the culture and audiovisual session of the Education, Youth and Culture Council in Brussels on 11 November 2002, accompanied by Dr Elaine Murray, Deputy Minister for Culture, Tourism and Sport in the Scottish Executive. They discussed with other European Union Culture Ministers progress on the new work plan and agreed further resolutions, e.g. on mobility of persons and circulation of works in the cultural sector (Report in Official Report, 20 November 2002, column 143W). Future meetings of European Union Ministers for Culture will discuss further progress on the new work plan.

Free Television Licences

Ann Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many pensioners have claimed free television licences in Dewsbury in each year since 1997.

Richard Caborn: Free television licences for the over-75s were introduced in November 2000; no free licences were available prior to that date. TV Licensing, who administer the concession as agents for the BBC, are not able to provide geographical breakdowns of the number of free licences issued. However, estimates based on the 1991 Census indicate that there were approximately 5,100 people aged 75 or over living in the Dewsbury constituency.

Gulf War Rally

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what mechanisms she will use to ensure that the numbers attending the anti-Gulf War rally in Hyde Park on 15 February will be accurately counted.

Richard Caborn: I understand that the Metropolitan Police will make their own estimate of the numbers attending, as they usually do at these events. Our main concern, and that of the Royal Parks, is to ensure as far as possible that the rally takes place safely for all those taking part.

National Lottery

Ann Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what Lottery money has been allocated to projects in the Dewsbury area in each of the last five years.

Richard Caborn: The following table sets out the awards that have been made in the Dewsbury constituency since 1998 to date and is broken down by calendar year.
	
		£
		
			 Year Value of awards made to projects within the constituency of Dewsbury 
		
		
			 1998 538,261 
			 1999 33,915 
			 2000 69,448 
			 2001 743,757 
			 2002 303,499

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

E-mail

Paul Tyler: To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for North Cornwall on 27 January 2003, Official Report, column 584W, on e-mail, what steps have been taken to meet hon. Members' concerns that legitimate communications are not being blocked; what filters are in place to block unsolicited spam messages; and if he will make a statement.

Archy Kirkwood: As I indicated in my answer to the hon. Member on 27 January 2003, Official Report, column 584W, the sender of any e-mail that is blocked will be notified and invited to contact the intended recipient, who, by contacting the Parliamentary Communications Directorate (PCD) Helpdesk, can arrange for the e-mail to be swiftly unblocked. This prevents legitimate e-mails being lost.
	PCD are monitoring the system, which can be easily modified in response to feedback from hon. Members and staff. For example, seven legitimate e-mails about the Sexual Offences Bill were inadvertently blocked: the filter has now been adjusted so that this does not happen. I am aware of concerns that legitimate e-mails might be blocked because they are written in Welsh; this is certainly not the case either for Welsh or for any other language.
	During the first three weeks that the filter was in place, it blocked 3,465 of the 555,000 e-mails received, or about one in every 160 e-mails. The PCD Helpdesk received only 29 unblocking requests, which is less than one per cent. of the e-mails blocked. These figures suggest that the proportion of e-mails which have been incorrectly delayed as a result of the e-mail filter is around one in every 20,000 received.
	Only inappropriate incoming e-mails are filtered. No filters are currently in place to block other spam. After further consultation with the relevant domestic committees to determine the views and needs of Members, PCD plan to introduce a new service to help users of the Parliamentary Network identify and manage this additional nuisance.

CABINET OFFICE

Capital Projects

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will place the evaluations for Capital Modernisation Fund projects undertaken by the Cabinet Office since 1998 in the Library; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: The Cabinet Office has secured funds for two projects from the Capital Modernisation Fund: the development of an e-infrastructure to support the delivery of public services online and e-government (including the Knowledge Network); and a secure Business Change Programme for the intelligence community enabled through modern technology. These projects are ongoing and evaluations have not yet been undertaken.

Civil Defence

Gregory Barker: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what steps he is taking in terms of civil defence planning in (a) London, (b) the South East, (c) England and (d) the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: The Civil Contingencies Secretariat, Cabinet Office, is responsible for emergency planning in England and Wales. It co-ordinates the development of civil protection arrangements involving Government Ministers, Government Departments, emergency services, local authorities, voluntary organisations and others. It works closely with the Devolved Administrations, which have responsibility for these matters, to ensure coherence of arrangements across the UK.
	Much of the response to emergencies is based on multi-agency local emergency arrangements, developed within the clear guidelines set out by the Home Office. However, further measures have been taken to improve the regional planning capability:
	The London Resilience Team was set up following the tragic events of 11 September 2001 to ensure that London has the best contingency plans possible. It works in support of the Minister of State for Local Government and the Regions and the Mayor of London to co-ordinate the emergency planning work of the London Boroughs, transport operators, emergency services, London health authorities and other civil authorities in London.
	Regional Resilience Teams are being established, including for the South East of England, to improve the capability for regional emergency planning. These teams will assist in co-ordinating emergency planning within and across regions through the creation of Regional Resilience Forums.

E-Envoy

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the measures of success are for the performance of the Government's e-envoy; and whether these have been achieved.

Douglas Alexander: The Office of the E-Envoy has three core Objectives: to develop the UK as a World Leader for electronic Business; to make all government services available electronically by 2005 with key services achieving high level of use; to ensure that everyone who wants it has access to the internet by 2005. Each month the E-Minister my hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and the E-envoy (Andrew Pinder) provide a joint report to the PM. These reports set out the progress on the UK Online Strategy. These are available through the e-envoy web site on www.e-envoy.gov.uk
	In November 2002 the Office of the E-Envoy published the results of independent research measuring performance against the Government's target to make the UK the best environment in the world for e-commerce by 2002. The UK was found to rank second only to the USA in the benchmarked group of leading nations. The most recent survey of online government services showed that last summer 54 per cent. of services were enabled.
	UK Online Centres are an integral part of the Government's aim to ensure that everyone who wants it has access to the internet by 2005. The initial target for the introduction of UK Online Centres has been met and exceeded with the delivery of over 6,000 UK online centres at the end of 2002.

Senior Civil Service

Mr. Gareth Thomas: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what proportion of vacancies in the Senior Civil Service were filled through after completion; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: The 2001/2 Annual Report of the Civil Service Commissioners states that 200 candidates were approved for appointment to the Senior Civil Service (SCS) that year following Open Competition. This represents 56% of all SCS entrants in 2001/2.

Senior Civil Service

Mr. Gareth Thomas: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many Senior Civil Servants have spent time working in (a) local government, (b) the health service, (c) the voluntary sector and (d) the private sector (i) before they joined the Senior Civil Service and (ii) through exchange programmes; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: From information held centrally on the experience of senior civil servants as at 1st April 2002:
	(i) Prior to the Civil Service:
	Experienced in Private Sector: 673 known out of 3507
	Experienced in Voluntary Sector: 67 known out of 3507
	Experienced in Public Sector: 392 known out of 3507 (information on local government experience and experience in the Health Service is not collected separately)
	(ii) No experience prior to the Civil Service, but through exchange programmes:
	Experienced in Private Sector: 67 known out of 3507
	Experienced in Voluntary Sector: 7 known out of 3507
	Experienced in Public Sector: 63 known out of 3507.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Arms Exports (Israel)

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what types of arms were exported to Israel in each of the last five years; and if she will make a statement.

Nigel Griffiths: I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Meirionnydd Nant Conwy (Mr. Llwyd) on 18 March 2002, Official Report, column 54W.

Benefit Payments

Patrick McLoughlin: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the effect on post offices in Derbyshire of the change in payment of benefits from over-the-counter to direct bank transfer.

Stephen Timms: No such assessment has been made by the Department. The migration of benefit payment to ACT begins this year and the Post Office's strategy is to respond to that challenge with a range of banking and other services. How the migration of benefit payments affects the revenue of post offices will depend on a number of factors, not least how benefit recipients and other post office customers respond to change. The income from the various contracts Post Office Ltd. has with the spending Departments and various financial institutions, and the remuneration of sub-postmasters for banking services, is a commercial matter between the parties.

Climate Change Levy

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions she has had with EU colleagues regarding EU approval for the exemption from the Climate Change Levy of the coal mine methane industry; and if she will make a statement.

Brian Wilson: The use of coal mine methane directly as a fuel in industrial processes is already exempt from the Climate Change Levy. The Department of Trade and Industry have submitted a State Aid Application to the European Commission for exemption from the Climate Change Levy for electricity produced from coal mine methane. The commission has opened an investigation under Article 88(2) of the Treaty to determine whether the proposed aid is approvable. They will be inviting comments from member states and interested parties. We have received the formal notification of this decision from the commission and DTI officials are currently preparing an initial response and considering what other action will be necessary to secure the State Aid Approval.

Coal Miners' Compensation

Jeff Ennis: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry for what reasons a second medical examination to assess the services proportion of coal industry vibration white finger claims is required; what additional (a) resources and (b) expenditure have been set aside for this purpose; and when he expects all claims to be settled.

Brian Wilson: In addition to the general damages paid to those suffering from vibration white finger (VWF) my Department is responsible for compensation to certain claimants who are prevented from carrying out everyday tasks such as DIY and gardening because of the severity of their VWF. Therefore, in accordance with common law it is necessary to identify to what extent VWF itself has caused these difficulties. The second medical examination is designed to identify any other conditions, or co-morbidities, that may impact upon a claimant's ability to undertake the task claimed for. The existing medical examination for VWF was not designed to identify such conditions, which is why a second medical in these circumstances is necessary.
	Resources for this second medical, or Services MAP, are already being put in place. The Department announced on 6 February 2003 that Aon Health Solutions (AHS) has been appointed as the new medical provider for this process. We are now involved actively with all our contract partners towards starting medical assessments by the end of April this year. Currently there are 60 adjusters at IRISC preparing claims for the Services MAP. Resources at AHS will be updated over time in line with the volumes of claims passing through to the medical stage of the process.
	It is not possible to make firm financial estimates of the cost of Services claims until the numbers of those making claims is clearer. But this is a legal liability and the Department will meet whatever it costs. As well as having financial implications, the final numbers will also impact on the time scale involved. It is hoped to have the majority of claims through the Services MAP by the end of 2005; however, this is significantly dependent on the full cooperation of solicitors in getting claims documentation to our claims handlers.

Coalmine Methane

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the Renewables Obligation will be extended to cover coal mine methane.

Brian Wilson: The Government consider that extending the Renewables Obligation to include coal mine methane would not be consistent with the objectives of the Obligation; coal mine methane is, by definition not a renewable.

Coalmine Methane

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the (a) role of coal mine methane and (b) its importance in the security of UK future energy requirements.

Brian Wilson: Although coal mine methane currently contributes some 30MW to the total 74,000MW generating capacity in the UK, the Government recognise and value the environmental benefits the industry provides by tapping the methane emissions and putting them to good use. We are very supportive of this industry and are keen to help it expand so that it can continue to reduce these emissions throughout the UK. We have already demonstrated this support through our securing exemption from the climate change levy for electricity generated from CMM in last year's budget, and this is currently being cleared with the European Commission.
	The Government's conclusions on the role of CMM in the security of UK future energy supply will be made public when the White Paper is published shortly.

Cruickshank Report

Brian Cotter: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  what steps have been taken to implement the Cruickshank report recommendations for regulating the charges on small businesses for credit and debit card transactions;
	(2)  what plans she has to establish a payments regulator within the Office of Fair Trading.

Ruth Kelly: I have been asked to reply.
	The Cruickshank report on Competition in UK Banking concluded that there was a profound lack of competition in the provision of payment services and recommended the setting up of a regulator to bring about improved competition in this sector. In his March 2000 Budget speech, the Chancellor announced that the Government would legislate to ensure the payments system is open to new competition. The Government remain committed to introducing legislation to give the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) new powers to promote effective competition in payment systems—and will do so as soon as parliamentary time allows.
	Progress has already been made through, for example, reforms to the governance structures of the main UK payment systems. The Government welcome these moves by payment system participants to address the competition issues identified by the Cruickshank report and urges the industry to continue with these reforms.
	The Cruickshank report did not specifically recommend regulating the charges on small businesses for credit and debit card transactions. What it did recommend, however, was that wholesale prices—such as interchange fees—should generally be derived through a process that is transparent to final users, and that prices should be based on legitimate costs and should anticipate achievable cost reductions. It is envisaged that the Government's proposed legislation will include provisions designed to promote efficient wholesale pricing. This might reasonably be expected to bring about benefits to all end-users of payment services, including small businesses.
	To promote its understanding of how payment systems operate, and to help pave the way for its prospective powers, the OFT announced on 27 November that it would conduct an empirical study into recent payment system developments. The terms of reference of this study were published on 31 January 2003—and include issues related to pricing in the credit and debit card markets. The OFT has undertaken to publish a report outlining its assessment and conclusions in spring 2003.

Icelandic Trawlermen

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many former Icelandic trawlermen had their claims for compensation rejected because of breaks in service in each of the four main distant water fishing ports.

Nigel Griffiths: I regret that this information could be compiled only at disproportionate cost.

Trawlermen

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much has been paid out to how many trawlermen, and how many claims have been (a) rejected and (b) reduced because of breaks in service for each of the main distant water ports, under her compensation scheme for former Icelandic trawlermen.

Nigel Griffiths: At mid-February 2003, £40.2 million in compensation had been paid to 4,653 former Icelandic water trawlermen. About 2,900 claimants had been assessed as not qualifying for compensation. I regret that there are no figures about how many claims have been rejected and reduced because of gaps in service in each of the main distant water ports. This information could be produced only at disproportionate cost.

Trawlermen

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the reasons underlying the treatment of (a) compulsory periods of service on North Sea fishing boats and (b) periods spent in prison in calculating service for the purposes of her compensation scheme for Icelandic trawlermen; and how (a) and (b) are treated under redundancy legislation.

Nigel Griffiths: The continuity of service rules under the Government's compensation scheme were extremely generous to claimants. In general, service was regarded as continuous regardless how many gaps a trawlerman had had between voyages on Icelandic water vessels, or how long those gaps had been, or what the reasons for them had been.
	The only exception was where, during a gap of longer than 12 weeks, the former trawlerman had done other work—which included, for these purposes, other fishing work on vessels that had never made voyages to Icelandic waters. The rationale for this was that if a former trawlerman had done other work during a lengthy gap between voyages on Icelandic water vessels, it would not have been right to have regarded him as having remained dependent upon the industry during that period.
	One consequence of the generosity of this aspect of the scheme rules was that time spent in prison did not break continuity, provided the former trawlerman's most recent work before going into prison had been on an Icelandic water vessel, and that he had resumed work on such a vessel after his release, having done no other work in between.
	The continuity of service rules under the statutory redundancy payments scheme are different, and much stricter. In particular, there is a requirement for continuous service with the same employer (or an associated employer), whereas under the compensation scheme there was no such requirement.

Motor Transport Fuels

Crispin Blunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will set out her policy for the adequate supply and distribution of motor transport fuels for the public service in all areas of the UK; and if she will make a statement.

Brian Wilson: The public services are responsible for making their own provisions for obtaining transport fuels. However, the Department is responsible for contingency planning for any national emergency resulting in severe fuel shortages. These plans include measures for the supply and allocation of fuel to essential priority uses, including transport fuels for essential public services throughout the UK.

Nuclear Industry

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of how much radioactive material will enter the Irish Sea if (a) all spent nuclear fuel from British Energy's advanced gas-cooled reactors is stored and (b) the current reprocessing contracts continue for the remainder of the projected life of each of British Energy's advanced gas-cooled reactors.

Michael Meacher: I have been asked to reply.
	The amounts of low-level radioactivity that would need to be discharged into the Irish Sea over the long term under either of these scenarios cannot at present be quantified.

Ofgem

Mr. Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the members of the Board of Ofgem and the companies they have worked for.

Brian Wilson: The Gas and Electricity Markets Authority comprises the following members. Biographical details areas are drawn from Ofgem publications.
	Callum McCarthy, Chairman of the Authority and Chief Executive of Ofgem. Former senior civil servant at the Department of Trade and Industry; subsequently Director of Corporate Finance at Kleinwort Benson; Managing Director and Deputy Head of Corporate Finance at BZW; Chief Executive Officer of Barclays Bank group operations in Japan before moving to head the Bank's businesses in North America.
	Gill Whittington, Chief Operating Officer. Former Chief Executive of the media divisions of Booker plc and subsequently of Booker Services; then Director of
	Strategy at Guy's and St. Thomas' NHS Trust.
	John Neilson, Managing Director, Customers and Supply. Senior civil servant. Dr. Eileen Marshall CBE, Managing Director, Competition and Trading Arrangements. A former stockbroker and university lecturer, Dr. Marshall has held position in the office of Electricity Regulation and the Office of Gas Supply.
	Richard Ramsay, Managing Director, Regulation and Financial Affairs. Formerly with Hill Samuel; BZW; and Ivory and Sime.
	Sir Keith Stuart (non-executive). Formerly Director, then Chairman, of Seeboard.
	Richard Farrant (non-executive). Non-executive Chairman of the Banking Code Standard Board. Formerly Chief Executive of the Securities and Futures Authority, then Chief Operating Officer and Managing Director of the Financial Services Authority.
	Professor Leonard Waverman (non-executive). Professor of Economics at London Business School. Former part-time member of the Ontario Energy Board.
	James Starchan (non-executive). Chief Executive of the Royal National Institute for Deaf People. Formerly a Managing Director of Merrill Lynch.
	Margaret Ford (non-executive). Chief executive officer of Good Practice Limited. Chairman of English Partnerships.
	John Belcher (non-executive). Chief Executive of Anchor Trust.

Ofgem

Mr. Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will set out the term and salary of each member of the Ofgem Board.

Brian Wilson: The Chair was appointed for a period of five years (including his previous terms as Director General of Gas Supply and Director General of Electricity Supply) to 31 October 2003. Other executive members are appointed on an ex-officio basis for renewable periods of two years. The latest annual report of the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (2001–02) shows the salaries of executive members as follows:
	
		£000
		
			 Executive member Salary 
		
		
			 Callum McCarthy 160–165 
			 Dr. Eileen Marshall 120–125 
			 John Neilson 95–100 
			 Richard Ramsay 140–145 
			 Gill Whittington 110–115 
		
	
	During the same period, non-executive members each received remuneration of £12,000 per annum, and are appointed for periods ranging from one to three years to facilitate continuity.

Ofgem

Mr. Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the recruitment consultants used in the appointment of the Director General of Ofgem cost; and if she will make a statement.

Brian Wilson: Fees and expenses of £45,373.80 were paid to the recruitment consultants in 1998.

Ofgem

Mr. Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to her answer of 27 January, ref.86201, if she will name (a) the firm of recruitment consultants retained by the Department under a call-off contract which assisted with the process of appointment of the combined post of Director General of Gas Supply and Director General of Electricity Supply and Chairman-designate of the Gas and Electricity Markets Authority and (b) the other appointments with which the firm assists.

Brian Wilson: PriceWaterhouseCoopers assisted the Department in this recruitment under the call-off contract. In 1998 no central records are held on other appointments on which the firm may have assisted.

Post Offices

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many post offices there were in (a) the Edinburgh, West parliamentary constituency, (b) the City of Edinburgh local authority area and (c) Scotland, in each year since 1992.

Stephen Timms: I am informed by Post Office Ltd. that historic data in the forms requested are not available as the company does not require these data for operational reasons.
	However, in 1999, the Post Office undertook a special exercise to determine the number of post offices in each parliamentary constituency in response to the then hon. Member for Birmingham, Erdington on 29 November 1999, Official Report, column 22W. I further understand from Post Office Ltd. that it compiled a list of post offices by parliamentary constituency as of 20 April 2002 showing their classification as urban or rural offices. At the time this list was compiled, 21 post offices were listed for Edinburgh West constituency. A copy of the full list is held in the Libraries of the House.
	Post Office Ltd. further informs me that data by country before 1998 is not available. However the numbers of post offices operating in Scotland over the last five financial years are as follows:
	
		
			 End March Number operating 
		
		
			 1998 2,051 
			 1999 2,026 
			 2000 1,999 
			 2001 1,936 
			 2002 1,907 
		
	
	I am also informed by Post Office Ltd. that revision of data has affected individual country totals.

Science Research Investment Fund

Dari Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what formula was used to determine allocations to universities of the Science Research Investment Fund for 2004 to 2006; and what factors underlay the allocation made to (a) the University of Teesside and (b) other universities in the North East.

Patricia Hewitt: Science Research Investment Fund (SRIF) allocations to 123 higher education institutions in England, including the University of Teesside and other universities in the north-east, were made using a formula based on institutions' research income.

South West RDA

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many staff work in each department of the South West RDA.

Alan Johnson: In the South West Regional Development Agency there are in each department the following:
	Development: 94 staff (including two student surveyors)
	Enterprise and Innovation: 71 staff
	Corporate Services: 29 staff
	Strategy and Communications: 36 staff

South West RDA

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many projects were started by the South West RDA in (a) 2000–01, (b) 2001–02 and (c) 2002–03.

Alan Johnson: Since the advent of single pot funding, i.e. from 1 April 2002—end January 2003, 219 projects have been started by, that is, received funding approval from, the South West Regional Development Agency.
	The information is not available for earlier years.

LORD CHANCELLOR

Bank Accounts (Inspections)

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if she will consult the authorities in (a) Jersey, (b) Guernsey and (c) the Isle of Man about the extension of the clauses relating to the inspection of bank accounts in the Crime (International Co-operation) Bill to them.

Rosie Winterton: No, we have not consulted the Islands about extending the Bill to them as they customarily enact their own legislation in the area of criminal justice—for example, in the Criminal Justice (International Co-operation) (Jersey) Law 2001, the Criminal Justice (International Co-operation) (Bailiwick of Guernsey) Law 2001 and the Criminal Justice Act 1991 (of Tynwald).
	The clauses referred to implement the 2001 Protocol to the Mutual Legal Assistance Convention 2000. To opt in to this Convention, and the protocol, the Islands would first need to join the 1959 Council of Europe Convention on Mutual Assistance. They have passed the necessary legislation and any subsequent decision on whether to apply further agreements is a matter for them.
	A copy of the Bill will be sent to the Insular Authorities once it receives Royal Assent and becomes an Act. Then it will be a matter for the Islands' discretion as to whether they wish to introduce any similar provisions into their own legislation. I would refer my hon. Friend to the Official Report of the Grand Committee on the Bill in the other place, columns GC42-GC46 (3 February 2003).

Child Abduction

John Stanley: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what steps her Department takes to discharge its obligations in relation to rights of access under Article 21 of the 1980 Hague Convention on International Child Abduction in the circumstances where the left-behind parent is in the UK and the abducted child is with its other parent in a state that has ratified the Hague Convention.

Rosie Winterton: Article 21 of the Hague Convention allows applications via the designated Central Authorities to make arrangements for organising or securing the effective exercise of rights of access. Any parent resident in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, whose child is resident in another Hague Convention country, may apply to the Child Abduction Unit (which discharges the Lord Chancellor's functions as Central Authority under the 1980 Hague Convention). The unit will transmit the application to its counterpart in the other country, monitor the case, liaise with all interested parties and assist as necessary, for example with applications for legal aid.

Freedom of Information

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if she will make a statement on progress towards Government targets for the implementation of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Yvette Cooper: Pursuant to section 87(5) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 a full report on the progress being made on implementation of the Act was laid before both Houses on 28 November 2002 (HC6). In line with this requirement a further report will be laid before the House before the end of November this year. In the meantime, the Act continues to be implemented according to the timetable announced by my noble and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor on 13 November 2001, Official Report, column 457.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Diego Garcia

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what stocks of landmines were held in (a) 2001 and (b) 2002 on Diego Garcia; what stocks are held there now; whose authority they are under; and if he will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: We have received assurances from the US authorities that no anti-personnel landmines were stored on Diego Garcia during 2001 or 2002. In contrast to anti-personnel landmines, anti-tank mines are not banned weapons under international law and are not subject to ban under international treaties. No anti-tank mines were stored on Diego Garcia by the British authorities in 2001 or 2002. The storing of such mines by the US authorities would be a matter for them under the various international agreements regulating their defence facility on the island.

Capita

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many meetings (a) he and his Ministers of State, and Parliamentary Under-Secretaries of State, (b) Foreign and Commonwealth Special Advisers and (c) Foreign and Commonwealth officials have had with Capita employees and members of the Capita board since May 2001; what the purpose was of each meeting; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: As with previous Administrations, and in line with exemption 7 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information, it is not this Government's normal practice to release details of specific meetings or their content, as some of these discussions may have taken place on a confidential basis. All such contacts are conducted in accordance with the rules set out in the Ministerial Code, the Civil Service Code, and Guidance for Civil Servants: Contacts with Lobbyists. Copies of these documents are available in the Libraries of the House.

Departmental Properties

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans there are to sell the San Francisco Consulate's residence; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave him on 25 November 2002 (Official Report, column 79W). Officials will visit San Francisco again in March to assess the market and survey possible properties for purchase.

Departmental Properties

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many ambassadorial and consular offices and houses have been sold since 1997; and where these were.

Bill Rammell: In the financial years from 1996–97 to 2002–03 the FCO has sold seven overseas offices, 13 head of mission/post residences, one combined office/residence and 222 staff houses and flats, as follows:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 Sales completed in financial year 1996–97 
			 Offices  
			 Dublin  
			 Total 1 
			   
			 Residences  
			 Abidjan  
			 Kuala Lumpur  
			 Total 2 
			   
			 Staff housing  
			 Buenos Aires 2 flats 
			 Canberra 2 houses 
			 Cape Town 1 house 
			 Helsinki 1 house 
			 Johannesburg 6 houses 
			 Lilongwe 5 houses 
			 Madrid 2 flats 
			 Mbabane 4 houses 
			 Paris 4 flats 
			 Reykjavik 1 house 
			 Santiago 1 house 
			 Wellington 3 houses 
			 Windhoek 1 house 
			 Total 33 
			   
			 Sales completed in financial year 1997–98 
			 Offices  
			 Nil  
			 Total 0 
			   
			 Residences  
			 Paris OECD  
			 Zurich  
			 Total 2 
			   
			 Staff housing  
			 Bogota 1 flat 
			 Buenos Aires 1 flat 
			 Canberra 1 house 
			 Cape Town 1 house 
			 Geneva 1 house 
			 George Town 1 house 
			 Harare 1 house 
			 Helsinki 3 flats 
			 Johannesburg 1 house 
			 Lusaka 4 houses 
			 Madrid 1 flat 
			 Maputo 1 house 
			 Maseru 2 houses 
			 Paris 7 flats 
			 Pretoria 1 house 
			 The Hague 2 flats 
			 Tirana 1 house 
			 Wellington 1 house 
			 Windhoek 1 house 
			 Total 32 
			   
			 Sales completed in financial year 1998–99 
			 Offices  
			 Bogota  
			 Casablanca  
			 Total 2 
			   
			 Residences  
			 Lille  
			 Marseilles  
			 Total 2 
			   
			 Staff housing  
			 Copenhagen 2 flats 
			 Dublin 1 house 
			 Geneva 4 flats 
			 Honiara 1 house 
			 Johannesburg 2 flats 
			 Mbabane 1 house 
			 Oslo 1 house 
			 Ottawa 2 houses 
			 Paris 2 flats 
			 Port of Spain 1 house 
			 Pretoria 12 flats 
			 The Hague 1 flat 
			 Total 30 
			   
			 Sales completed in FY 1999–2000 
			 Offices  
			 Bonn  
			 Total 1 
			 Residences  
			 Dublin  
			 Cleveland  
			 Total 2 
			   
			 Staff housing  
			 Bogota 1 flat 
			 Bonn 1 house 
			 Bridgetown 1 house 
			 Budapest 1 house 
			 Geneva 2 flats 
			 Johannesburg 1 flat 
			 Kuala Lumpur 1 flat 
			 Madrid 1 house 
			 Mbabane 1 house 
			 Paris 2 flats 
			 Port Moresby 2 flats 
			 Santiago 1 house 
			 Stockholm 2 flats 
			 Sydney 1 house 
			 Tel Aviv 1 house 
			 Total 19 
			   
			 Sales completed in FY 2000–01 
			 Offices  
			 Malaga  
			 Seville  
			 Total 2 
			   
			 Residences  
			 Bonn  
			 Total 1 
			   
			 Staff housing  
			 Bonn 1 house 
			 Cairo 2 houses 
			 Capetown 1 house 
			 Dar es Salaam 6 flats 
			 Dublin 2 houses 
			 Geneva 1 flat 
			 Helsinki 1 house 
			 Jakarta 1 house 
			 Kuala Lumpur 1 flat and 1 house 
			 Lagos 6 flats 
			 Lisbon 1 house 
			 Madrid 1 house 
			 Nairobi 1 house 
			 Nassau 1 house 
			 Ottawa 3 flats 
			 Singapore 1 house 
			 Total 31 
			   
			 Sales completed in FY 2001–02 
			 Offices  
			 Mbabane  
			 Total 1 
			   
			 Office and residence  
			 Naples  
			 Total 1 
			   
			 Office and residences  
			 Munich  
			 St. John's  
			 Total 2 
			   
			 Staff Housing  
			 Athens 3 flats 
			 Bogota 3 flats 
			 Buenos Aires 2 houses 
			 Cairo 1 house 
			 Capetown 3 houses 
			 Dar es Salaam 1 house 
			 Dublin 1 house 
			 Geneva 1 flat 
			 Helsinki 1 house and 1 flat 
			 Jakarta 1 house 
			 Kingston 1 house 
			 Kuala Lumpur 1 house 
			 Lagos 2 houses 
			 Lusaka 1 house 
			 Montevideo 1 flat 
			 New York 2 flats 
			 Ottawa 1 house 
			 Paris 9 flats 
			 Port of Spain 1 house and 1 flat 
			 Santiago 1 flat 
			 Stanley 1 house 
			 Sydney 1 house 
			 Tel Aviv 4 houses 
			 The Hague 2 flats 
			 Valletta 1 house 
			 Washington 1 house and 6 flats 
			 Total 55 
			   
			 Sales completed in FY 2002–03 
			 Offices  
			 Nil  
			 Total 0 
			   
			 Residences  
			 Lyon  
			 Strasbourg  
			 Total 2 
			   
			 Staff housing  
			 Canberra 2 houses 
			 Durban 1 house 
			 Pretoria 1 house 
			 Muscat 2 houses 
			 Paris 2 flats 
			 Reykjavik 1 flat 
			 Dakar 1 house 
			 Lagos 1 house 
			 Lusaka 1 house 
			 Tel Aviv 2 houses 
			 Dublin 2 houses 
			 Bridgetown 3 houses 
			 Washington 1 house and 2 flats 
			 Total 22

Departmental Properties

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much his Department spent on maintaining embassies and consulates in (a) EU countries and (b) the USA in the last 12 months.

Bill Rammell: In financial year 2001/2002 the cost of maintaining the FCO's accommodation in European Union countries and the USA was £4,107,918 and £1,850,847 respectively.

Gibraltar

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if it is his policy to separate the sovereignty over military interests in Gibraltar from the sovereignty of Gibraltar as a whole.

Denis MacShane: I refer the hon. Member to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary in this House on 12 July 2002, Official Report, column 1165.

Gibraltar

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if it is his policy to withdraw the proposals for shared sovereignty of Gibraltar that he set out in his statement of 12 July 2002.

Denis MacShane: The Government's position remains that set out by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary in his statement of 12 July 2002, Official Report, column 1165. As we have consistently made clear, any proposals that would affect the sovereignty of Gibraltar would be put to its people in a referendum and they would decide.

Gibraltar

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Spanish Government about Gibraltar since 7 November 2002; and if he will list the topics discussed.

Denis MacShane: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has had several discussions with his Spanish counterpart on a range of issues since 7 November 2002. None of these concentrated on Gibraltar. I met the Spanish Minister for Europe on 10 February. We discussed a number of issues, including Gibraltar.

Gibraltar

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy that change to the sovereignty of Gibraltar will only be agreed by the Government after the majority of the people of Gibraltar have consented to the proposed change.

Denis MacShane: I refer the hon. Member to the answers given on this matter by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 6 November 2002, Official Report, column 279.

Gibraltar

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to uprate the value of pensions payable to Spanish pensioners who worked in Gibraltar prior to 1969.

Denis MacShane: Under an agreement between the British and Spanish Governments in 1996, payments to all previous Gibraltar Social Insurance Fund contributors were fixed at 100% of accrued rights at 1988 levels and HMG assumed responsibility for payments to those not resident in Gibraltar. There are no plans to change this agreement.

Gibraltar

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the responsibilities of Gibraltar Community Care Limited in offering charitable assistance to elderly people resident in Gibraltar.

Denis MacShane: Community Care was established in 1989 as a private charitable organisation with the objective of performing a range of charitable functions for elderly people living in Gibraltar, including assistance in meeting household costs which are particularly high in Gibraltar. Community Care has received substantial funding from the Government of Gibraltar.

Gibraltar

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his assessment of relations with the Government of Spain; what representations he has received from the Government of Spain since 7th November 2002; and when he plans to discuss with the Government of Spain the issue of (a) border queues, (b) access to air travel and (c) improved communications in Gibraltar.

Denis MacShane: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has had several discussions with his Spanish counterpart on a range of issues since 7 November. None of these concentrated on Gibraltar. I met the Spanish Minister for Europe on 10 February. We discussed a number of issues, including Gibraltar. Our relations with the Government of Spain remain close.

Gibraltar

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the five economic tests for determining whether there is a clear and unambiguous case for UK entry into the eurozone will be applied separately to the economies of overseas territories, with particular reference to Gibraltar.

Ruth Kelly: I have been asked to reply.
	The Government has made clear that a comprehensive and rigorous assessment of the five economic tests will be made within two years of the start of this Parliament.

International Criminal Court

Tony Worthington: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what countries, other than the United States, have approached him with a view to negotiating a bilateral Article 98 treaty relating to the International Criminal Court; and what his policy is regarding this.

Bill Rammell: The United States is alone in having approached us for such an Agreement. Should we receive further requests, our response would be guided by the ICC Statute and the Principles agreed by EU Foreign Ministers on 30 September 2002.

Iraq

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to pursue the claims of UK shareholders in respect of the 1974 nationalisation of the Iraqi oil industry.

Mike O'Brien: I understand that we have no record of any recent approaches on this subject from British companies which held shares in the former Iraq Petroleum company prior to its nationalisation.

Indonesia

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Indonesia about the holding of the Reverend Rinaldy Damanik in prison; and if he will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: Reverend Damanik has been charged with firearms offences which need to be investigated thoroughly and fully. It is essential that the legal process take its full course and the Indonesian courts hear all the evidence. Under international law we are prohibited from intervening in individual cases before the courts in another sovereign country. However, we continue to stress to the Indonesian Government the importance of a fair and transparent judicial system, and of applying the law in an even-handed way to all who break it. We have also offered human rights training for a number of Indonesian Supreme Court Judges. The Indonesians welcomed this training, and are keen for it to go ahead.

Saudi Arabia

John Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what advice his Department is giving to British subjects in Saudi Arabia about the motives for recent bombings against non-Saudi nationals.

Mike O'Brien: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 31 January, Official Report, column 1090W.

Saudi Arabia

John Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions his Department has had with the Saudi Government regarding the human rights of Sandy Mitchell, Les Walker, James Lee and James Cottel, imprisoned in Saudi Arabia.

Mike O'Brien: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 6 February, Official Report, column 386W.

Saudi Arabia

John Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department has taken to investigate claims that British nationals imprisoned in Saudi Arabia for bombings have been subjected to long periods of solitary confinement and sleep deprivation.

Mike O'Brien: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 3 February, Official Report column 9W.

Saudi Arabia

John Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Saudi authorities about (a) compliance with the human and legal rights conventions Saudi Arabia has signed to and (b) the case of the detainees Sandy Mitchell, Les Walker, James Lee and James Cottel.

Mike O'Brien: My right hon. Friend, the Foreign Secretary—and Ministerial colleagues—have raised the cases of the British men detained in Saudi Arabia at the highest levels with the Saudi authorities. We remain deeply concerned about these cases. The men's welfare is our paramount concern. We continue to work hard to resolve the cases. We are in close contact with the Saudi authorities and the men's lawyers.
	Saudi Arabia is a signatory to a number of international human rights conventions including the Geneva Convention on Human Rights; and the Convention Against Torture. HMG raises human rights issues regularly at all levels with the Saudi government, both bilaterally and with our EU partners.

Sudan

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the government of Sudan regarding (a) the special courts and human rights violations and (b) fighting between the Baggara and the Fur Marralit tribes in Darfur.

Bill Rammell: We are concerned about the extensive use of the death penalty in Sudan, in particular the lack of legal representation and the use of special courts. We have made representations to the Sudanese Government, most recently to the Minister of Justice on 18 January. Following the executions of 3 men on 8 January, the EU Presidency issued a statement of condemnation on 10 January and raised the case with the Under-Secretary at the Ministry of Justice on 11 January.
	We are also concerned about reports of clashes between camel herders from the north and the Fur in Jebel Marra. We raised this issue most recently with General Ibrahim Suleiman, Wali of North Darfur and Head of the Darfur Taskforce, on 23 January.

Sudan

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to participants in the peace process in Sudan regarding the situation in Darfur.

Bill Rammell: We have made regular representations on the situation in Darfur to the Government of Sudan in Khartoum, most recently on 18 and 23 January.

PRIME MINISTER

Anglo-French Summit

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the proposal outlined at the recent Anglo-French summit for an inter-governmental defence capabilities development and acquisition agency; and when he anticipates the agency coming into operation.

Tony Blair: In the Defence Working Group of the Convention on the Future of Europe, the United Kingdom proposed that an intergovernmental EU agency should be established to help improve European military capabilities.
	At the Le Touquet summit, France and the United Kingdom agreed to promote a co-ordinated approach to capability development through the establishment of a European defence capabilities development and acquisition agency. A copy of the Summit Communique, which outlines the envisaged functions of the agency, has been placed in the Library of the House.
	The agency's efforts would complement and reinforce NATO capability improvement work, and should generate better targeted, and more cost-effective capabilities for European Security and Defence Policy.
	If the proposal is agreed, the new treaty which is currently being drawn up for consideration at the Intergovernmental Conference in late 2003 or early 2004 would include an article providing for the establishment of such an agency. The new treaty will be subject to ratification before coming into force although some elements might be put in place beforehand.

Computer Crime

Paul Burstow: To ask the Prime Minister how many cases of computer (a) hacking, (b) fraud and (c) theft his Department recorded in 2001–02; and on how many occasions computer systems have been illegally accessed by computer hackers (i) within and (ii) outside his Department.

Tony Blair: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Cabinet Office on 14 February, Official Report.

Gulf Forces

Harry Cohen: To ask the Prime Minister whether forces deploying to the Gulf have adopted uniform rules of engagement.

Tony Blair: Details of rules of engagement are not routinely disclosed because they could give a potential enemy information about the permissions and restrictions imposed on our forces. As we have said many times, the Government are committed to acting in full conformity with International Law. Our rules of engagement will reflect this.

Iraq

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Prime Minister which minister gave final approval for the publication of the UK dossier on Iraq of September 2002.

Tony Blair: This was a Government document cleared in the normal way.

Iraq

Jim Cousins: To ask the Prime Minister what provisional plan he has made for the care of children in Iraq in the event of armed conflict.

Tony Blair: Children in Iraq are already vulnerable. In the centre and south of Iraq, under-five mortality rates are 131 per 1,000 live births—worse than the Democratic Republic of the Congo or Mozambique. The situation is particularly bad in the centre and south of Iraq where conditions have been deteriorating since the 1980s. The situation in the North, which is subject to UN sanctions but not ruled by Saddam Hussein, is less serious with the under-five mortality rate of 72 per 1000 live births.
	The United Kingdom has been at the forefront of the efforts of the international community to improve the humanitarian situation in Iraq. Aside from our role in the UN, UK assistance to Iraq continues both bilaterally and through the EC. Since 1991 the UK has provided over £100 million for humanitarian work. The Department for International Development's ongoing programme expects to spend £8 million this financial year.
	We are holding regular discussions with the UN, US and others about ways to minimise the suffering of the Iraqi people, including in the possible event of military action. One key priority will be to re-establish the Oil For Food distribution network as quickly as possible if it is disrupted. In addition to DFID's ongoing programme we are also providing £3.5 million funding for humanitarian contingency planning and prepositioning of basic supplies by UN agencies, including UNICEF and UNHCR.

Iraq

Andrew Turner: To ask the Prime Minister if he will cite the references for statements which are not obtained directly from intelligence sources in his dossiers of evidence of Iraq's involvement in terror and weapons of mass destruction.

Tony Blair: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave my hon. Friend (Llew Smith) Member for Blaenau Gwent on Monday 10 February, Official Report, column 583W.

Iraq

Llew Smith: To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on matters discussed and decisions taken during his meeting with the heads of the UNMOVIC and IAEA inspection teams on 6 February.

Tony Blair: We had a general discussion about the progress of weapon inspections in Iraq.

Online Sales/Purchases

Tim Yeo: To ask the Prime Minister what (a) products, (b) goods and (c) services were (i) bought online and (ii) sold by his Department in each of the last five years.

Tony Blair: My Office does not have any on-line buying arrangements at present.

Security and Intelligence Agencies

Harry Cohen: To ask the Prime Minister what weaknesses of control in 2001–02 were identified in the security and intelligence agencies in those areas which do not comply fully with generally accepted accounting practice or the requirements of the Resource Accounting Manual; what the consequences were, including in terms of financial loss; what is being done in 2002–03 to address these weaknesses; and if he will make a statement.

Tony Blair: It is a long-standing Government policy not to make public information relating to the accounts of the individual security and intelligence agencies. Such information is outside the scope of the "Code of Practice on Access to Government Information" (paragraph 6 of part 1). The full details of individual Agency accounts and the Comptroller and Auditor General's opinions on them are available to the Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee and to the Intelligence and Security Committee, who are able to scrutinise the detailed accounts on Parliament's behalf.
	Parliament has already been informed that the Comptroller and Auditor General qualified his opinion on 2001–02 resource accounts of the Government Communications Headquarters, saying that he was "unable to obtain all the information and explanations that [he] considered necessary regarding the valuation of certain fixed assets, prepayments and related figures in the accounts" (HC368 of 30 January 2003, page 6). This is not a new problem and was addressed in the Intelligence and Security Committee's last Annual Report (Cm 5542) and the Government's response (Cm 5543). The Government continues to take this problem seriously, and the Director of GCHQ and Sir David Omand are taking steps to improve the situation. This shortcoming in the accounts has not had any impact on GCHQ's operations. There is no evidence that this problem, has led to any material financial loss.

Security and Intelligence Agencies

Harry Cohen: To ask the Prime Minister what weaknesses of control in 2001–02 were identified in the security and intelligence agencies in the areas of (a) asset management, (b) management of consultants, (c) suspense accounts, (d) records management, (e) management information and (f) contract management; what the consequences were, with particular regard to financial loss; what is being done in 2002–03 to address these weaknesses; and if he will make a statement.

Tony Blair: It is long-standing Government policy not to make public information relating to the accounts of the individual security and intelligence Agencies. Such information is outside the scope of the "Code of Practice on Access to Government Information" (paragraph 6 of part 1). The six areas identified here, which have been made public (in HC368 of 30 January 2003, page 5) are drawn from the Agencies' individual statements of internal control, the full details of which are available to the Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee and to the Intelligence and Security Committee. On the matter of the shortcomings in GCHQ's management of assets and the Government's determination to correct these, I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave him today. Weaknesses in the other areas mentioned were of a smaller scale and steps have already been taken to improve control in these areas. There is no evidence that any of these weaknesses have led to material financial loss and there has been no impact on the Agencies' operational effectiveness.

Thames Gateway

Jon Cruddas: To ask the Prime Minister what the (a) terms of reference for and (b) members of the new cabinet sub-committee on the Thames Gateway are; and if he will make a statement.

Tony Blair: I refer my hon. Friend to the written ministerial statement I made on 6 February 2003, Official Report, column 19WMS.

Work Placements

Graham Allen: To ask the Prime Minister how many university students his Department supported or sponsored with a work placement in the last year; what his policy is on work placements; what plans he has to develop such schemes; and what his policy is on paying their university fees.

Tony Blair: My Office does not run work placements scheme for university students.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Contingency Planning

Angela Watkinson: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what discussions he has had with the London Fire Brigade and the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority in forming contingency plans for a major emergency in the capital.

Nick Raynsford: The London Fire Brigade (LFB), and the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority (LFEPA) and its predecessors, have long been closely involved in contingency planning for a major emergency in the capital. Following the events of 11 September 2001, it was recognised that an enhanced emergency planning capability involving LFB, LFEPA and other key agencies was needed to deal with the new kind of threat. In May 2002, a new strategic planning regime was set up under the London Resilience Forum, chaired by myself with the Mayor as my deputy. LFB and LFEPA are represented at a senior level on the London Resilience Forum, and secondees from LFB and LFEPA are attached to the London Resilience Team, an inter-agency team based in the Government Office for London which reports to me and which is driving forward a programme of action to increase London's preparedness against a major terrorist attack. As part of this programme, LFB, LFEPA and other key agencies have been closely involved in drawing up a new command and control structure for ensuring a co-ordinated response from the emergency services, the Government and other key players in the event of a catastrophic incident.

Contingency Planning

Angela Watkinson: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what arrangements have been made to co-ordinate the activities of the emergency services in responding to a major incident.

Douglas Alexander: I have been asked to reply.
	I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Carshalton and Wallington (Tom Brake) on 19 December 2002, Official Report, column 893W.

Departmental Consultations

Tim Yeo: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list consultations his Department has conducted since it was established; and when each consultation (a) opened and (b) closed.

Christopher Leslie: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister was established on 29 May 2002 and a list of the consultations which have been conducted is listed in the table:
	
		
			  Start Finish 
		
		
			 Housing and Regeneration   
			 Allocation of accommodation—Code of Guidance for Local Authorities 31 May 2002 27 August 2002 
			 Timing of rent increases for assured periodic tenancies in England and Wales—proposals to change rules 21 June 2002 13 September 2002 
			 New Financial Framework for Local Authority Housing: Resource Accounting in the Housing Revenue Account 26 June 2002 9 September 2002 
			 Homelessness Code of Guidance for Local Authorities 8 July 2002 31 October 2002 
			 Housing Renewal Guidance—Consultative Document 22 July 2002 10 October 2002 
			 Proposal to change delegation of Housing Management for Local Housing Authorities 31 July 2002 27 September 2002 
			 Housing Capital Finance—Way Forward 2 August 2002 18 October 2002 
			 Removal of requirement for Local Authorities to obtain consent to run a Cash Incentive Scheme 16 August 2002 18 October 2002 
			 Home Ownership: Revised procedures for consulting service charge payers about service charges 20 August 2002 30 November 2002 
			 Memorandum and Articles for Right to Manage/Right to Enfranchise Companies as proposed in the Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002 13 September 2002 31 December 2002 
			 Home Improvement Agencies— Development and Reform 30 September 2002 31 December 2002 
			 Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002—Restrictions on the use of forfeiture for long residential leases 18 October 2002 31 December 2002 
			 Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002—Prescribed Content and Form of Notices associated with acquiring the Right to Manage 25 October 2002 31 December 2002 
			 Housing Revenue Account (item 8) and Subsidy Determinations (Draft) 2003–04 14 November 2002 12 December 2002 
			 Proposal to give Local Authorities financial freedom to build new social housing in HRA Private Finance Initiative schemes 29 January 2003 26 February 2003 
			 Delivering Adaptations—Desk Guide, Overview and Check List 10 February 2003 2 May 2003 
			 'Updating the English Indices of Deprivation 2000' 22 November 2002 15 January 2003 
			 Neighbourhood Renewal Unit— Research Strategy consultation 1 June 2002 31 August 2002 
			 Tenancy Money—Probity and protection' 28 October 2002 28 February 2003 
			
			 Local Government   
			 Local Government Finance: Review Support Grant for 2003–04 5 December 2002 14 January 2003 
			 Local Government Finance: Revenue Support Grant 2001–02—Proposed Amending Report 5 December 2002 14 January 2003 
			 Local Government Finance: Formula Grant Distribution 8 July 2002 30 September 2002 
			 Draft Local Government Bill 12 June 2002 23 August 2002 
			 Accounting for Retirement Benefits 9 January 2003 14 February 2003 
			 Revised guidance on rate relief for charities and other non-profit making organisations 1 May 2002 30 August 2002 
			 Rating of food processing and packaging plants currently exempt from non-domestic rates 1 May 2002 31 July 2002 
			 Rating of meters—Non Domestic Rates: Gas, Electricity, Water Meters 13 June 2002 31 July 2002 
			 Conduct of Councillors: Local Investigation and Determination of Misconduct Allegations. 20 May 2002 1 July 2002 
			 Access to Local Government Pension Scheme by means of an Admission Agreement. 31 July 2002 16 September 2002 
			 Access to Information in Local Government: Current and future framework for Local Authorities 2 September 2002 2 December 2002 
			 Local Government Pension Scheme: Retirement Benefits Package: 9 September 2002 17 April 2003 
			 Combining English Local Authority, Greater London Authority and European Parliament Elections in 2004 28 October 2002 31 January 2003 
			 Local Government Pension Scheme: Simplification 29 October 2002 17 March 2003 
			 Local Government Pension Scheme: (Management and Investment of Funds) Regulations 1998: Prudential Benchmarks 27 November 2002 21 January 2003 
			 Draft guidance for issue to the Boundary Committee for England about local government reviews. 2 December 2002 3 March 2003 
			 Local Government Pension Scheme (England and Wales) (Local Authority Members in England): Regulations 2003 23 December 2002 21 January 2003 
			 Draft Regulations—Local Authorities (Members' Allowances) (England) Regulations 2003 14 January 2003 25 February 2003 
			 New Council Constitutions—Guidance on Consolidated Regulations for Local Authority Allowances 14 January 2003 25 February 2003 
			
			 Planning and Regions   
			 Revised Circular on Compulsory Purchase orders—Planning Consultation draft 26 July 2002 31 October 2002 
			 Compulsory Purchase Policy—review of home loss payments under Local Government Act 1973 27 September 2002 6 January 2003 
			 Review of planning enforcement system in England 22 September 2002 31 December 2002 
			 Revision of Planning Policy Guidance Note 23 (PPG23): Planning and Pollution Control. Consultation Draft 12 July 2002 9 October 2002 
			 Draft National and Regional Guidelines for Aggregate Provision in England: 2001–2016 5 August 2002 4 November 2002 
			 Proposed Changes for Regional Planning Guidance 13 (North West region) 1 May 2002 31 August 2002 
			 Your Region, Your Choice (CMD 5511): involvement of stakeholders in future of elected regional assemblies 9 May 2002 31 August 2002 
			
			 Fire   
			 Reform of Fire Safety Legislation—consultation 30 July 2002 22 November 2002 
			
			 Building Regulations   
			 Amendments to Building Regulations (Part M)—Access to and use of buildings 28 August 2002 29 November 2002 
			 Amendments to Building Regulations (Part C)—Site preparation and resistance to contaminants and moisture 10 December 2002 10 March 2003

Departmental Expenditure Limit

Matthew Green: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the Departmental Expenditure Limit for housing was in each year since 2000–03.

Tony McNulty: The Departmental Expenditure Limit for housing in each year 2000–01, 2001–02 and 2002–03 is set out in the table.
	
		£ million
		
			 Financial year DEL MRA Total 
		
		
			 2000–01 3,599 — 3,599 
			 2001–02 2,592 1,589 4,181 
			 2002–03 2,961 1,561 4,522

Development (South-east)

Matthew Green: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what studies have been conducted for his Department into potential growth in the (a) Thames Gateway, (b) Ashford, (c) Milton Keynes and (d) London-Stansted-Cambridge areas.

Tony McNulty: The East Thames Corridor Study in 1994 set out the development capacity and potential of the Thames Gateway area. This was followed by Regional Planning Guidance 9a, which defined the Gateway and set out a Planning Framework to guide future development. A further study in 2000 recommended extension of the area to include south Essex, which now forms part of the Gateway.
	For the other growth areas, the following are the most recent studies that have been completed:
	a study into potential growth in the Ashford area by the Halcrow Group Ltd. was published in December 2002. The study was commissioned by Ashford borough council, in partnership with the Government Office for the South East (GOSE), South East England Regional Assembly (SEERA), South East England Development Agency (SEEDA), English Partnerships, Housing Corporation, Kent county council and Kent and Medway Learning and Skills Council;
	the study by Roger Tym and Partners covering the Milton Keynes and South Midlands area was published in September 2002. It was jointly commissioned by SEERA, GOSE, Government Office for the East of England (GO-East), Government Office for the East Midlands, East of England Local Government Conference, East Midlands Regional Local Government Association, SEEDA, East of England Development Agency (EEDA), East Midlands Development Agency, English Partnerships, Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire county councils, Milton Keynes council, and Luton borough council; and the Sub Regional Study by ECOTEC Research and Consulting Ltd., covering the London-Stansted-Cambridge area, was published in July 2002. It was jointly commissioned by Essex, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire county councils, East of England Regional Planning Body, GO-East, Government Office for London, Greater London Authority, EEDA and London Development Agency.

Election Arrangements

William Cash: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many submissions have been received to the Lord Chancellor's Department/ODPM consultation paper, Combining English Local Authority, Greater London Authority and European Parliament Elections in 2004; and how many of the submissions support the proposals to move the date of the May 2004 elections.

Christopher Leslie: By the close of consultation on 31 January 2003 a total of 364 responses had been received. Of those responses expressing a view, 172 support the proposal to move the date of the May 2004 local and Greater London Authority elections and 138 are against.

Election Arrangements

William Cash: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when (a) his Department and (b) the Lord Chancellor's Department have had discussions with representatives from (a) the National Assembly for Wales, (b) electoral administrators, (c) the Greater London Authority, (d) the European Parliament and Commission, (e) local government representatives and (f) the Electoral Commission concerning the proposals to combine English local authority, Greater London Authority and European Parliament elections in 2004, (i) prior to the publication of the Government consultation paper on that topic and (ii) subsequent to the publication.

Christopher Leslie: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and the Lord Chancellor's Department, as part of their ongoing contact with bodies interested in electoral matters, have had discussions with representatives of the National Assembly for Wales, electoral administrators, the Greater London Authority, local government representatives and the Electoral Commission about the idea of combining local council, Greater London and European Parliamentary elections. These have taken place both prior and subsequent to the publication in October 2002 of the consultation paper: "Combining English Local Authority, Greater London Authority and European Parliament Elections in 2004". The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and the Lord Chancellor's Department has not held discussions about this proposal with either the European Parliament or the European Commission.

Fire Dispute

Edward Davey: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the total cost incurred by his Department as a result of the fire strikes has been.

Nick Raynsford: The estimated cost to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister to the end of January of providing emergency cover for the fire dispute is approximately £70 million. Each extra day the military remains ready to provide cover costs up to about £l million. The figures are necessarily approximate estimates and will remain so until invoices are received and audited.

IT Contracts

Jonathan Sayeed: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list IT contracts in his Department and its predecessors above £50 million in each of the last 10 years; what the inception date for each system was; when it became fully functional; when it became fully debugged; and what the cost of over-runs has been.

Christopher Leslie: No IT contracts have been let by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister or his predecessors over the last 10 years with a value over £50 million.

Landfill Tax Credit Scheme

Helen Jones: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what estimate he has made of the change in revenue to Warrington Borough Council as a result of the proposed changes to the Landfill Tax Credit Scheme.

Michael Meacher: : I have been asked to reply.
	There should be no loss of revenue to Warrington Borough Council as a result of the changes to the Landfill Tax Credit Scheme because local authorities are prohibited from benefiting directly from that scheme.

Local Government Ombudsman

Mr. Gareth Thomas: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many complaints about the clarity of literature published by the Local Government Ombudsman he has received in each of the last five years.

Christopher Leslie: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is not aware of any such complaints about publications by the Commission for Local Administration in England, two of which have in the last two years received the 'crystal mark' award for their clarity.

Looked-After Children

Paul Burstow: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when the Social Exclusion Unit will publish its report into looked-after children.

Barbara Roche: The Social Exclusion Unit will publish its report on raising the educational attainment of children in care in the spring 2003.

Market Renewal Pathfinders

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether the status of market renewal pathfinders was conferred by application; what consultations were held in advance with the local authorities; how many applied; and why (a) nine and (b) seven were accepted.

Tony McNulty: Low demand pathfinder projects have been established in nine areas of the country at the invitation of the Government. The nine areas are those most acutely affected by the problem of low demand housing. Informal discussions about the low demand situation generally as opposed to the establishment of pathfinder projects were held with some, but not all, of the local authorities participating in the low demand pathfinder projects.

Minimum Wage

Pete Wishart: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will estimate the impact of increasing the minimum wage (a) in line with average earnings, (b) to £4.17 per hour, (c) to £4.87 per hour, (d) to £5.00 per hour and (e) to £5.30 per hour, on the cost of salaries of departmental employees (i) in total and (ii) for each nation of the United Kingdom in the next financial year.

Christopher Leslie: Increasing the minimum wage in the manner described would have no impact on the cost of salaries for employees of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

New Deal for Communities

Matthew Green: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much funding the New Deal for Communities has budgeted for each Government office of the region in (a) 1999–2000, (b) 2000–01, (c) 2001–02 and (d) 2002–03.

Barbara Roche: The following table is New Deal for Communities provision for each government region.
	Round 1 partnerships started their implementation phase in 2000–01 and Round 2 partnerships in 2001–02. Prior to this, expenditure was limited to setting up the partnerships, preparing a delivery plan and a small number of 'quick win' projects.
	
		NDC provision budgeted for each Government Office Region -- £ million
		
			  1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 
		
		
			 London 2.6 13.7 28.6 37.6 
			 South East 0.4 2.4 4.7 7.0 
			 South West 0.3 2.6 6.1 7.6 
			 East 0.2 4.2 9.5 13.2 
			 East Midlands 0.5 0.0 15.6 15.7 
			 West Midlands 1.0 8.9 17.9 22.4 
			 Yorkshire and Humber 0.8 7.0 14.6 17.7 
			 North East 0.8 5.3 15.7 18.8 
			 North West 1.0 4.7 14.1 31.0 
			 Total 7.5 48.8 126.8 170.9

Regional Government

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what level of support the Regional Assembly will be given in relation to the planning of the SWAMMS report.

David Jamieson: I have been asked to reply.
	In addition to the £689,000 previously announced for expenditure by the South West Regional Assembly on regional planning purposes in 2003–04, my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Housing, Planning and Regeneration, announced on 10 February that a further £324,000 is being provided to the Assembly in the form of Planning Delivery Grant to carry out this function. This means in all some £1,013,000 is available which will include work arising from SWARMMS.

Sangatte

Tom Cox: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many people allowed into the UK from the Sangatte refugee camp have found (a) employment and (b) housing; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: I have been asked to reply.
	All those admitted from Sangatte were offered temporary accommodation, provided by the Home Office, on their arrival in the United Kingdom. Jobcentre Plus officials have made assessments of their skills and are referring them to job opportunities. Home Office officials are working closely with local authorities to advise on longer-term accommodation.

Sustainable Communities

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) on what statistical basis councils were chosen as Market Renewal Pathfinders, as described in the White Paper Sustainable Communities; who chose them; and what changes have been made since the Pathfinder status was announced last year.

Tony McNulty: The then Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions chose the areas to be invited to establish low demand pathfinder projects by reference to two primary data sources:
	(i) the statistical returns compiled by local authorities as part of the Housing Investment Programme; and, where available,
	(ii) local housing market studies undertaken by the Centre for Urban and Regional Studies (Birmingham University) and others. On the basis of this data, the Department looked at the scale of the low demand problem across sub-regional housing markets, as well as individual local authorities. It sought to identify the most acute problems of low demand in terms of scale and intensity of the problem.
	Since pathfinder projects were established last year, we have added Rossendale Borough Council to the East Lancashire project.

Sustainable Communities (East London)

Jon Cruddas: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will define the area East London as referred to in his plan for a new style urban development corporation in the Sustainable Communities Plan; and what discussions he has had in relation to the best approach for a new style urban development corporation in East London.

Tony McNulty: The exact boundary of the East London Urban Development Corporation (UDC) will be the subject of consultation and confirmation by Parliament, but will focus on three broad locations in the London Thames Gateway: the Lower Lea Valley, Barking and Havering Riverside and Thamesmead, Belvedere and Erith. This focus has been agreed in principle with Thames Gateway London partners including the GLA, Thames Gateway London Partnership, the Mayor and the LDA.

Sustainable Communities (East London)

Jon Cruddas: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister on what basis the £446 million announced in the Sustainable Communities Plan will be allocated to the Thames Gateway area; and how local authorities and other organisations operating in the Thames Gateway will access the funding.

Tony McNulty: Following the announcement of the Sustainable Communities Plan and the allocation of £446 million for the Thames Gateway area, we are currently working up the detailed arrangements for how this money will be accessed and on what basis it will be spent.

Sustainable Communities (East London)

Jon Cruddas: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he will announce further details regarding the setting up of a new style urban development corporation for East London.

Tony McNulty: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is consulting widely with our partners in the Thames Gateway in order to fully work up proposals for the setting up of an Urban Development Corporation in East London, as signalled in the Sustainable Communities Plan announcement. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister will be announcing further details soon.

Thames Gateway

Edward Davey: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to his answer of 6 February 2003, Official Report, column 422W, on new developments in the Thames Gateway, if he will place the Environment Agency's constraint flood maps for each zone of change within the Thames Gateway in the Library.

Tony McNulty: The most up-to-date map of the indicative flood plain within the Thames Gateway's zone of change is available on the Environment Agency's website.

Unfair Terms Regulations

Bridget Prentice: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  how council tenants and council leaseholders will be able to receive independent advice on the implications of the Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations for the consultation procedures involved in any housing stock transfer;
	(2)  what advice has been given by his Department to local authorities and housing associations regarding the implications of the Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations 1999 for the housing stock transfer process.

Tony McNulty: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister expects tenants and council leaseholders involved in a housing stock transfer to have access to independent advice through an Independent Tenant Adviser (ITA), whose role is to provide information and impartial advice on all the implications of the transfer, including the application of the Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations in respect of tenancy agreements.
	A reference to the Regulations is included in the revised version of the Housing Transfer Manual which will be published shortly; and the Housing Corporation has issued a circular to registered social landlords about this matter.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Beef Assurance Scheme

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make an assessment of the viability of rearing an organic grass-fed herd of South Devon cattle under the Beef Assurance Scheme in the West Country; and if she will make a statement.

Michael Meacher: It is for individuals to assess the viability of rearing organic South Devon cattle under the Beef Assurance Scheme in the circumstances particular to their enterprise. However, we are committed to a successful long-term future for organic farming in England. As announced in the Action Plan to develop organic food and farming in England published last July, this year we will be introducing additional financial support under the Organic Farming Scheme.

Carbon Dioxide Emissions

Edward Leigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures the Government are taking to ensure that they meet their pledge to reduce national carbon dioxide emissions to 20 per cent. below 1990 levels by 2010.

Michael Meacher: The UK Climate Change Programme (CCP), published in November 2000, sets out the policies and measures that the Government and the devolved administrations have introduced, or are planning to introduce, to reduce carbon dioxide emissions to move towards the domestic goal of a 20 per cent. reduction in the UK's emissions below 1990 levels by 2010.
	Emissions reductions will come from a range of policies and measures, covering all sectors of the economy. Key policies introduced so far include the climate change levy package; the UK greenhouse gas emissions trading scheme; a target for the renewables obligation that 10 per cent. of sales from licensed electricity suppliers should be generated from renewable sources; the target to at least double the capacity of combined heat and power by 2010; European-level agreements with car manufacturers to improve the fuel efficiency of new cars; the 10-Year Plan for Transport; better energy efficiency in the residential sector; and, improving performance standards in the Building Regulations.

Coal Mine Methane

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of how many communities have suffered environmental damage or housing problems due to coal mine methane.

Michael Meacher: holding answer 6 February 2003
	In 1996 DOE published a report "Methane and other gases from disused coal mines: The Planning Response" which discussed the problems posed by gases, including methane, from disused coal mines, in the context of town and country planning. It provided factual information for those involved with land and property such as planners, developers, owners and insurers, and is relevant to both new and existing development. The report mentions that between 1945 and 1994 there were about 75 surface gas emissions recorded, of which 70 per cent. involved methane, and in 35 per cent. of these cases the gas ignited. Half (nine) involved residential property. A copy of the report is in the House Library.
	Since 1995 the Coal Authority (CA) has been recording incidents of water, gas and major collapses involving non-operational coal mines. The CA's Surface Hazard call-out system, which aims to attend a call within two hours and make safe within six hours, recorded 68 incidents of surface mine gas between 1995 and 2002 of which four were in the West Midlands. These incidents include both methane and other oxygen-deficient gases such as carbon-dioxide. Incidents are tackled urgently to avoid damage or other problems.

External Consultancy

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much (a) her Department and (b) each agency and non-departmental public body spent on external consultancy in each year from 1995–96 to 2002–03 (planned); and if she will make a statement.

Alun Michael: The information, which represents the cost of bought-in services, is as follows:
	
		£000
		
			  2001–02 2002–03 
		
		
			 Core-Defra 40,682 21,968 
			
			 Agencies:   
			 Rural Payments Agency 2,656 1,030 
			 Central Science Laboratory 239 152 
			 Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science 70 70 
			 Pesticides Safety Directorate 127 137 
			 Veterinary Laboratories Agency 637 725 
			 Veterinary Medicines Directorate 136 147 
			
			 Non-Departmental Public Bodies:   
			 Apple and Pear Research Council 20 20 
			 Countryside Agency 332 275 
			 English Nature 237 305 
			 Environment Agency 47,886 51,810 
			 Home-Grown Cereals Authority 79 50 
			 Horticulture Research International 134 72 
			 Joint Nature Conservation Committee 65 42 
			 Meat and Livestock Commission 2,510 1,610 
			 Milk Development Council 2,000 Not available 
			 National Forest Company 52 45 
			 Regional Flood Defence Committees 0 0 
			 Royal Botanic Gardens 66 389 
			 Wine Standards Board 0 14 
		
	
	Equivalent information for 1995–96 to 2000–01 could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The figure for 2002–03 is an estimate.

Management Consultants

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much her Department has spent on management consultants since its creation.

Alun Michael: The information requested, which represents the cost of bought-in services for the Department and its agencies, is as follows:
	2001–02: £45 million
	2002–03: £24 million (estimate)
	The reduction from 2001–02 to 2002–03 is mainly a consequence of the reduction in expenditure associated with the outbreak of foot and mouth disease.

Producer Responsibility (Free Newspapers)

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she is taking to apply the producer responsibility principle to the publishers of free newspapers.

Michael Meacher: Our producer responsibility agreement made in April 2000 with the Newspaper Publishers Association set targets for the recycled content of all UK newspapers. The first target for 2001 was exceeded and recycled paper now makes up 63.5 per cent. of our newspapers.

Radioactive Waste

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to reduce the radioactive source terms at Sellafield.

Michael Meacher: At the request of Ministers, the Environment Agency has carried out a review of the radioactive discharges from the Sellafield site. The Agency published its proposed decision in August of last year. Among the key elements it proposed are reductions to eight out of 10 of the aerial and half of the liquid discharge limits for the Sellafield site.
	My right hon. Friends, the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Secretary of State for Health—the responsible Ministers under the Radioactive Substances Act 1993—are currently considering the Agency's proposed decision, and will come to their own decision later this year.

Radioactive Waste

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what information on the (a) conditioning and (b) chemical composition of radioactive waste included in the national radioactive waste inventory; and what plans she has to require more detailed information on the characteristics to be included.

Michael Meacher: The 2001 UK Radioactive Waste Inventory, in reports DEFRA/RAS/02.005 to 010 (as listed), contains comprehensive information on the conditioning and chemical composition of radioactive waste. There are no plans to require more detailed information on these characteristics at present. Copies of these reports are being placed in the House Library.
	Reports:
	Electrowatt-Ekono (UK) Ltd. The 2001 United Kingdom Radioactive Waste Inventory—Detailed Information for BNFL Wastes: Capenhurst, Sellafield and Springfields. DEFRA/RAS/02.005, Nirex Report N/043, October 2002
	Electrowatt-Ekono (UK) Ltd. The 2001 United Kingdom Radioactive Waste Inventory—Detailed Information for BNFL Wastes: Magnox Station Sites and Berkeley Centre. DEFRA/RAS/02.006, Nirex Report N/044, October 2002
	Electrowatt-Ekono (UK) Ltd. The 2001 United Kingdom Radioactive Waste Inventory—Detailed Information for BEG(UK) Ltd. and BEG Ltd. Wastes. DEFRA/RAS/02.007, Nirex Report N/045, October 2002
	Electrowatt-Ekono (UK) Ltd. The 2001 United Kingdom Radioactive Waste Inventory—Detailed Information for UKAEA Wastes. DEFRA/RAS/02.008, Nirex Report N/046, October 2002
	Electrowatt-Ekono (UK) Ltd. The 2001 United Kingdom Radioactive Waste Inventory—Detailed Information for MOD Wastes. DEFRA/RAS/02.009, Nirex Report N/047, October 2002
	Electrowatt-Ekono (UK) Ltd. The 2001 United Kingdom Radioactive Waste Inventory—Detailed Information for Amersham plc, Urenco and Minor Producer Wastes. DEFRA/RAS/02.010, Nirex Report N/048, October 2002

Recycling (Somerset)

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the level of recycling was in Somerset county council in 2002.

Michael Meacher: Our current figures show that Somerset county council's recycling and composting rate was 16 per cent. in 2001–02, the latest year for which data are available.

Recycled Goods

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what incentives and preventative measures are planned to encourage (a) local councils and (b) other public bodies to use more recycled goods in their service provision.

Michael Meacher: Within Government, the Sustainable Procurement Group has considered the scope to stimulate markets for recycled goods via public procurement and will make its recommendations to Ministers within the next few weeks. The Group has sought advice from the Waste Resources Action Programme (WRAP) (which was set up to encourage market development for recycled goods) on increasing the uptake of recycled products across Government and we expect its recommendations to point the way to significant improvements in purchasing of recycled products throughout the public sector. The increasing statutory targets that currently exist for local authorities will also provide an incentive for them to ensure that there is a market for recycled goods in place.
	More recently the Prime Minister's Strategy Unit report on Waste Strategy has recommended that the work that the Waste Resources Action Programme (WRAP) is undertaking with the Local Government Association and Improvement and Development Agency to promote the take-up of green procurement by local authorities be extended still further. It also suggested that formal mechanisms be put in place to roll out best practice tools developed by the Sustainable Procurement Group to local government. In Central Government it recommended targets for the use of recycled materials. Voluntary green targets were also recommended for local authorities to purchase more recycled goods, minimise waste volumes and to encourage them to recycle more of their waste. The Government aim to publish their response to that report in the spring.

Smokies

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what investigations have been undertaken by her Department into the production of "smokies" using imported contaminated carcases of goats and sheep; and what action the Government have taken to address this issue.

Hazel Blears: I have been asked to reply.
	The production of smokies, whether from imported or domestic carcases, is unlawful because it is a requirement under European Union law that sheep or goat carcases for human consumption be flayed immediately after slaughter.
	The Food Standards Agency issued guidance on smokies to local enforcement authorities and to border inspection posts in May 2002; since when successful action has been taken on a number of occasions against both imported and domestically produced smokies.
	The Government are also taking wider action to tackle illegal imports of meat. A recent progress update on this was given in the answer from my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Mr. Morley) on 27 January 2003, Official Report, column 558W.

Waste Management

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what (a) grants and (b) borrowing permissions have been made available to local authorities, in each year from 1997 to date, to facilitate (i) waste minimisation, (ii) reuse of materials, (iii) recycling of materials and (iv) incineration of waste.

Michael Meacher: The main source of revenue funding for local authority waste services is formula general grant, comprising the main Revenue Support Grant and National Non-Domestic Rates, provided by the Government under the annual Local Government Finance Settlement. This is distributed to local authorities through Formula Spending Shares. Waste services are covered by the Environmental, Protective and Cultural Services (EPCS) block of FSS which provides for a wide range of local authority services including libraries, local transport and flood defence, as well as waste. The element for waste services is not separately identified within the total, and spending decisions are for local authorities to make in the light of their own priorities and the wishes of their electorate. In total, the figures for the block are:
	
		
			  £ million 
		
		
			 2000–01 8,175 
			 2001–02 8,601 
			 2002–03 8,961 
			 2003–04 9,340 
			 2004–05 9,583 
			 2005–06 9,896 
		
	
	The figures for 2000–01 to 2003–04 are those provided in the Local Government Finance Settlement for the respective years. The figures for 2004–05 and 2005–06 are those set out in SR2002. They do not include resource equalisation which took place in 2003–04 and increases to EPCS FSS by £2.230 million in each of the three years to 2005–06.
	Prior to 2000–01 resources were provided to local authorities for recycling under a Supplementary Credit Approval scheme. The figure for 1997–98 was £2.159 million.
	Defra's Waste Minimisation and Recycling Fund has provided £50 million in 2002–03 and £90 million in 2003–04 to encourage local authorities to expand recycling operations in their area. The Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) has also been allocated £40 million from 2000–01 to 2003–04 to work on overcoming market barriers to reuse and recycling of waste. An additional £15 million was made available to WRAP for 2002–04 from the Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund to promote increased use of alternative materials as aggregates.
	The Government have also provided Private Finance Initiative (PFI) credits for waste and recycling projects of £220 million in SR 2000 and £355 million in SR 2002. So far, PFI waste projects approved by Defra have typically been large integrated waste management schemes including a variety of waste treatment options.
	As part of a Local Public Sector Agreements (LPSA) the Government offers, at the outset, a pump-priming grant, unsupported credit approvals and potential relaxations in statutory and administrative requirements. To date local authorities have been awarded approximately £5 million in pump priming grants, and £16 million in Unsupported Credit Approvals to facilitate the improvement of waste minimisation and recycling. Typically, financial support has been used to improve enforcement and publicity; to develop civic amenity sites; and to initiate or expand kerb-side collection schemes.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

AIDS Vaccine (Eastern Africa)

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what funding her Department has allocated for research into HIV/AIDS subtype A vaccines in Eastern Africa; what progress is being made towards a vaccine for the HIV/AIDS subtype A virus; and if she will make a statement.

Clare Short: My Department has been funding the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI) since 1998. Our current 5-year, £14 million, programme of support began in January 2000.
	IAVI has eight vaccine constructs under development, all specifically aimed at the HIV strains most prevalent in developing countries. Trials in various phases are planned for each of these over the next 2–5 years. The candidate vaccines currently being developed by the Medical Research Council, and Oxford and Nairobi Universities are aimed at combating the subtype A strain of HIV most common in East Africa.
	The Oxford-Nairobi trial is making significant progress. The vaccine candidate has progressed from the laboratory to approval for initial human testing in 18 months and is the first vaccine designed specifically for Africa to be tested in humans. Phase I and II trials are now ongoing in Oxford and Kenya. IAVI hope to move into Phase III efficacy trials by 2005.

Burma (Humanitarian Assistance)

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment she has made of providing cross-border humanitarian assistance to internally displaced people in Burma.

Clare Short: We monitor the humanitarian situation in Burma and Thailand including the situation for the 140,000 refugees living in camps, an estimated 1 million irregular migrants living on or near the border and the vulnerable populations living in border areas in Burma itself. Getting relief to internally displaced people living on the Burmese side of the border is difficult and dangerous. We provide humanitarian assistance on both sides of the border through carefully selected agencies eg UNHCR and ICRC in Thailand and Burma. The ICRC is the only organisation with a permanent international presence on both sides of the border. We also support WHO's border health programme in Thailand. In addition, we support food relief assistance for refugee camps through the Burmese Border Consortium (BBC). In the current financial year 2002–03 DFID's assistance in these areas will amount to around £3 million.

Central African Republic (Medical Supplies)

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to her answer of 4 December 2002, Official Report, column 854W, on the Central African Republic, what action is being taken to tackle the shortage of medical supplies.

Clare Short: The UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) in the Central African Republic (CAR) has now provided the health ministry with vaccines to enable it to continue routine immunisations in health facilities. The vaccines are to combat tuberculosis (TB), yellow fever, diphtheria-tetanus-whooping cough (DTW) and measles.
	The nationwide immunisation campaign, initially scheduled to start by mid-December 2002, has not yet begun due to the ongoing conflict between government forces and rebels.

Chad-Cameroon Oil Pipeline

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what external audits have been commissioned for the World bank funded Chad-Cameroon oil pipeline; and whether these audits will be made public.

Clare Short: Project arrangements provide for regular audits, on the Chad-Cameroon pipeline projects' accounts, plus independent opinions from the International Advisory Group (IAG) and External Compliance and Monitoring Group (ECMG). All IAG and ECMG reports are in the public domain and are available from the project website: http://www.worldbank.org/afr/ccproj/ Financial audits are not made public.

Chad-Cameroon Oil Pipeline

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the cost of the World Bank funded Chad-Cameroon oil pipeline.

Clare Short: The cost of the Chad-Cameroon Petroleum Development and Pipeline Project is estimated at US$3.7 billion, which is being funded largely by private industry.
	The World Bank Group will provide $93 million in loans—$53.4 million for Cameroon and $39.5 million for Chad— to finance the two governments' equity share in the project, and a $100 million loan from the International Finance Corporation (IFC) to the joint-venture pipeline companies. In addition to investments in the main oilfield development/pipeline project, the World bank is funding two projects aimed at strengthening the capacity of the Chadian and Cameroonian governments in environmental management and effective monitoring of the petroleum sectors. A total of US$29.5 million is being provided by the International Development Association (IDA), the World bank's lending arm for the poorest countries, for this.

Chad-Cameroon Oil Pipeline

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of allegations of fraud concerning the World bank funded Chad-Cameroon oil pipeline.

Clare Short: We are aware of allegations made by a former employee of Exxon-Mobil, which appear to stem from concerns over specification of equipment being procured for the project. The World Bank Group looked into the concerns raised and we are content with the response given. My Department has confidence that the World Bank's systems for monitoring the implementation of this project, and for investigating any complaints, are appropriate. We are not aware of any other allegations of fraud.

Child Soldiers (Burma)

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment she has made of the number of child soldiers in Burma; and what steps she is taking to tackle this.

Clare Short: An exact figure is not known. But a recent Human Rights Watch study estimated that there could be up to 70,000 child soldiers in Burma.
	The UN Security Council has now passed a resolution on Children Affected by Armed Conflict, which was based on the UNSG's report on child soldiers. In our statement on this to the Security Council, UK representative Jeremy Greenstock highlighted our concerns about child soldiers in Burma.
	The issue of child soldiers was also taken up in the UK Co-sponsored resolution at UNGA last November. We will be ensuring that the issue is addressed at the UN Commission on Human Rights where the EU will be tabling a resolution on the human rights situation in Burma. In addition the UK has in place a weapons embargo and a ban on all military links with the Burmese armed forces in view of their appalling human rights record.

Child Trafficking (Togo)

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps are being taken to tackle the trafficking of children in Togo.

Clare Short: Child trafficking is an international problem requiring co-ordinated action. The British Government are one of the strongest supporters of the International Labour Organisation's Convention on the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour. This complements the work carried out in West Africa by Governments and other international organisations such as UNICEF. My Department is also funding Anti-Slavery International to develop the capacity and commitment of local NGOs to end trafficking and the abuse of child domestic workers in West Africa.

Command and Staff College (Nigeria)

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the estimated cost is to the Government of funding for the Bournemouth University Disaster Management Centre course at the Command and Staff College in Nigeria.

Clare Short: The total cost of the two week Disaster Management Course and a further one week "Training the Trainer" course is £51,173. Funding is provided under the Africa Conflict Prevention Pool from resources allocated to the Ministry of Defence.

Emergency Operation Appeal (Western Sahara)

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will provide a breakdown of how the £1 million contribution to the Emergency Operation Appeal in the Western Sahara will be spent.

Clare Short: My Department is contributing £1 million to the World Food Program to provide emergency humanitarian assistance to populations affected by drought and crop failure within the Western Sahel. Assistance will be focussed mainly in Mauritania, but will also include Cape Verde, Senegal, The Gambia, and Mali. WFP has identified that 578,550 persons are affected by severe food insecurity or are in need of emergency intervention to prevent deterioration in their food and nutritional status. The operation is planned to last twelve months and will distribute 55,365 tons of food. 120,000 people in the Aftout region of Mauritania, the most severely affected area, will receive full ration enriched meals (2,100 Kcal); a further 384,550 beneficiaries in Mauritania, Cape Verde, Senegal and The Gambia will receive reduced ration meals (1,800 kcal); and 74,000 beneficiaries in the regions of Kayes and Koulikoro in Mali will receive cereal rations only (1,050 kcal).
	My Department is making available a further £570,804 to Oxfam, who will act as an implementing partner for WFP. Oxfam are well established within the region and will distribute the food supplied by WFP. Oxfam will undertake targeted food distribution to 36,280 of the most vulnerable people in the Aftout region, along with the provision of seeds, tools, pesticides and fencing materials to support vegetable gardening. Further capacity building measures will include studies into safe drinking water, food security and nutritional surveillance.

Eritrea

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what development aid has been made available in each of the last two years to Eritrea.

Clare Short: Bilaterally we provided £788,000 in 2002 and £839,000 in 2001. These funds were spent on meeting humanitarian needs and also on a small grants scheme. In addition we contributed 20 per cent. of EC spending, which in 2000, the most recent year that we have figures available for, was a UK contribution of £700,000.
	In addition we provided £500,000 in 2002 and £250,000 in 2001 to the UN Trust Fund for the delimitation and demarcation of the border between Eritrea and Ethiopia.
	The UK does not have a development partnership with Eritrea. We will continue to make a contribution to meeting urgent humanitarian needs, and to the consolidation of the peace process. We will also continue to assess the scope for helping with economic and political reform.

Ethiopia

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether malnutrition rates in Ethiopia are increasing.

Clare Short: The latest UN assessment is that although they have not observed a general deterioration in the nutritional status of the drought affected population, there has been a slow but gradual increase in Global Acute Malnutrition (GAM) in some of the drought affected areas of Ethiopia. Some areas are now above 10 per cent. GAM allowing no margin for error. The situation therefore requires constant monitoring.

Ethiopia

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if, at the meeting to be held with the Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Meles Zenawi, she will ask him what steps are being taken by the Ethiopian Government to investigate the detention without trial and torture and ill-treatment of (a) up to 60 demonstrators arrested in Oromia in April 2002 and (b) approximately 48 persons in the capital Addis Ababa, suspected of being members of the Oromo Liberation Front in August 2002.

Clare Short: Her Majesty's Government encourage the Ethiopian Government to handle political protest—violent or peaceful—in accordance with the provisions of their own law and relevant international conventions on human rights. I shall be discussing this issue within the context of the request for support I have received from Prime Minister Meles for transforming the Ethiopian police force into a force working with the community.

Ethiopia

Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development to what extent funding to Ethiopia under the Department's Direct Budget Support system will be conditional upon an improved human rights situation in the country.

Clare Short: My Department is developing a three-year programme of direct budget support to Ethiopia to support the implementation of the Ethiopian Sustainable Development and Poverty Reduction Programme (SDPRP). This will follow up on the disbursement agreed in January 2003. We intend to measure progress by the Government against a range of indicators from the SDPRP and other Government policy statements that will be agreed between the Government and a group of interested donors, including the UK. These indicators should cover the full range of commitments in the SDPRP including issues related to democratisation, empowerment and respect for human rights—economic and social, as well as civic and political.

Ethiopia

Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether, at her meeting with the Prime Minister of Ethiopia, she will raise (a) the detention without trial of thousands within Ethiopia; and (b) the likelihood of the Ethiopian Government either releasing such persons or placing them on trial as soon as possible.

Clare Short: In the Memorandum of Understanding I signed with the Ethiopian Government in January 2003, the Ethiopian Government renewed its commitment to protect the full range of human rights including economic and social rights of all Ethiopians, especially the poor. We are supporting the implementation of this commitment through our support for the Sustainable Development and Poverty Reduction Programme (SDPRP) and through regular dialogue with the Ethiopian Government, at which we raise human rights and other issues of concern. At my planned meeting with Prime Minister Meles, I expect to discuss progress on implementing the SDPRP and any issues of concern that arise.

Ethiopia

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether the Department will be conducting training of Ethiopian police and security forces as referred to in the Department's Ethiopian Country Assistance Plan.

Clare Short: My Department will be leading a joint DFID/MOD/FCO mission to Ethiopia to discuss with Government and civil society what support might be usefully provided for security sector reform and reforming the police. The provision of training will be considered during that mission.

Global Fund (Contributions)

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what representations she has made to the US Government on contributions to the Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB and malaria.

Clare Short: The UK Government have pledged £138 million to the Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB and Malaria (GFATM) over five years and have urged other donor countries, including the US, to commit to multi year funding. The UK remains strongly committed to the fight against AIDS, TB and Malaria. In considering future contribution levels to the Fund, we will look closely at its performance and effectiveness relative to other channels of assistance, and at the extent to which the Fund is supporting health and development plans and processes formulated by developing countries.

Iraq

Bob Laxton: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what preparations are being made to (a) monitor the humanitarian impact of military action in Iraq and (b) provide the appropriate humanitarian assistance.

Clare Short: My Department is holding regular discussions with the Ministry of Defence, UN agencies and other humanitarian actors about contingency planning for a range of eventualities in Iraq.
	In the event of military action, a key priority for the Government would be to minimise the suffering of the Iraqi people, who are already very vulnerable. This would include: provision of immediate humanitarian assistance by those best placed to do so; and re-establishment of the UN Oil For Food Programme distribution network. DFID is providing an additional £3.5 million contribution to support UN humanitarian contingency planning for Iraq, including the prepositioning of basic supplies, through funding to UNHCR, UNICEF, WFP, WHO, OCHA and UNSECOORD.

Iraq

Bob Laxton: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what additional funds have been allocated for humanitarian relief to accompany any military action in Iraq.

Clare Short: DFID has a contingency reserve of £100 million which we will draw on for any emergency situation in Iraq.

Iraq

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  what steps have been taken to monitor the humanitarian situation in Iraq in the event of military action;
	(2)  what analysis has been conducted as to likely humanitarian needs in the event of military action in Iraq.

Clare Short: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave my hon. Friend for Derby, North (Mr. Laxton) (to PQ 98600) earlier today.

Iraq

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what additional funds have been allocated to address the need for humanitarian relief in Iraq following military action.

Clare Short: DFID has a contingency reserve of £100 million, which we will draw on for any emergency situation in Iraq.

Iraq

Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what contingency plans she has made to provide assistance to the people of Iraq in the event of military action being taken against that country.

Clare Short: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave my hon. Friend for Derby, North (Mr Laxton) (to PQ 98600) earlier today.

IT Contracts

Jonathan Sayeed: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list IT contracts in her Department above £50 million in each year since it was established; what the inception date for each system was; when it became fully functional; when it became fully debugged; and what the cost of over-runs has been.

Clare Short: My Department has taken forward IT projects on a step-by-step incremental basis and we have had no contracts above £50 million.

Malawi

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much aid her Department is giving to Malawi to deal with food shortages.

Clare Short: The Department for International Development has spent approximately £34 million since the onset of the crisis: on food importation and distribution, provision of wages for employment on public works programmes (cash for work), support to agricultural production (targeted inputs of seed and fertiliser for 2 million of the poorest farmers) and rehabilitation of rail and road links on the import corridors. DFID's contribution forms a significant part of the effective consortium approach developed to deal with the crisis in which the Malawi Government, donors, NGOs and the commercial sector are partners.

Malawi

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what evidence has been collated by her Department on the early harvesting of immature maize in Malawi; and what assessment she has made of the effects of late planting of maize in Malawi on food stocks there.

Clare Short: Early harvesting of maize for immediate use is a regular component of the coping strategies for poor rural household in Malawi during the annual hungry season, which lasts normally from January to March. Although this may result in reduction in the grain harvest, the impact on national food security is expected to be minimal as present national maize grain stocks are higher than at any similar time during the last five years.
	Although there has been some localised flooding, the general picture of the 2002–03 rainy season remains good, with the latest maize crop estimate for a harvest of 2.05 million tonnes, about 95 per cent. of national requirements.

Maximising Impact in the Water Sector

Candy Atherton: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of the National Audit Office's report, "Maximising Impact in the Water Sector"; and if she will make a statement.

Clare Short: I welcome this report. It provides a welcome contribution to improving our work in the water sector as well as other areas. I was pleased to see that the National Audit Office concluded that our projects on water and sanitation have been largely successful, and that DFID is highly influential internationally. The National Audit Office's recommendations provide further impetus to strengthen our approach in areas such as evaluation and maximising the take-up of DFID research.
	I also refer my hon. Friend to my written ministerial statement to Parliament on water on 28 January 2003, ahead of the forthcoming World Water Forum in Kyoto in March 2003, setting out our view of the key issues in the sector and our approach to addressing them.

Mobile Communications (Third World)

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether development assistance is available to help with the expansion of mobile communications in the third world.

Clare Short: We are providing assistance in various ways to help bring the benefits of mobile communications to poorer people in developing countries. For example, the Building Digital Opportunities programme is supporting work at the policy level (e.g. by assisting regulators to develop pro-poor policy environments) and with communities (e.g. supporting local approaches to providing valuable information to poorer communities through mobile phones). Strategic interventions such as our new CATIA programme (Catalysing Access to ICTs in Africa) and the Open Knowledge Network, both include support for pro-poor mobile communication channels.
	In addition, we are working to attract greater private sector participation in expanding mobile communications in developing countries. In close consultation with key private companies and the DTI, we are jointly exploring how to enable the private sector bring affordable communications services to the great majority of people in developing countries without easy access to a public telephone. Mobile communications will play a critical role in this. In addition, DFID is contributing to broader infrastructure investment funds, such as the EAIF—Emerging Africa Infrastructure Fund—which can support, inter alia, investments in mobile communications facilities.

Montserrat

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what subjects she discussed with the Chief Minister of Montserrat during his recent visit to London.

Clare Short: We discussed Montserrat's progress towards self-sufficiency, including plans for a new airport, and future DFID support.

Montserrat

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what financial resources her Department (a) allocated and (b) transferred to Montserrat in each year from 1998.

Clare Short: The figures are:
	
		
			 UK Financial Year Allocated (£000s)(52) Disbursed (000s)(53) 
		
		
			 1998–99 33,000 31,096 
			 1999–2000 23,934 22,640 
			 2000–01 24,100 20,811 
			 2001–02 24,400 24,412 
			 2002–03 (52)20,000 (53)20,000 
		
	
	(52) Revised
	(53) Estimated outturn
	In addition I recently set aside a total of £45.6 million for Montserrat over the period 2003–04 to 2005–06, which will bring our total assistance by 2005–06 to over £225 million since the onset of the volcanic emergency. This will represent, for the coming three years, an increase of around 50 percent. of the budget that was previously available to Montserrat over that period.
	Source:
	1. Departmental records.
	2. Statistics on International Development, 2002.

Palestinian Food Shortages

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on Palestinian food shortages.

Clare Short: The economic crisis has seriously compromised household welfare. Many Palestinian families have endured long periods without work or incomes, and are now dependent on food aid for their daily survival. The international community has responded to the growing crisis through a range of interventions, including the provision of food. Donor disbursements have doubled accordingly in the last two years. But unless Palestinians can move around to work and trade, the Palestinian economy will continue to stagnate and the spiral of unemployment, poverty and malnutrition will worsen.

Safe Drinking Water

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of the progress towards halving by 2015 the proportion of people without sustainable access to safe drinking water.

Clare Short: Nearly two thirds of the world's population will be living in countries of significant water stress by the year 2025. 1.2 billion people currently lack access to safe drinking water and 2.4 billion people lack access to basic sanitation.
	The percentage of people served with some form of improved water supply rose from 77 per cent. in 1990 to 82 per cent. in 2000. The greatest gain in improved water coverage was in South-central Asia, from 72 per cent. to 85 per cent. The percentage of people with access to basic sanitation increased from 51 per cent. to 61 per cent. in the same period. Much work, however, has yet to be done. In sub-Saharan Africa, only 58 per cent. of the population has access to improved water sources. The 2002 UN Human Development Report has indicated that nearly 25 countries, the majority in Sub-Sahara Africa, are lagging or are far behind in respect to meeting the MDG for water, with another 75 countries lacking data to effectively assess their progress. But all of the goals remain achievable if developing countries and the international community have the determination to ratchet up their efforts.
	My Department is providing substantive financial support and technical assistance to initiatives that support the assessment of access to improved water supplies and sanitation, including the United Nation's Joint Monitoring Programme which provides the UN reference at both global, regional and country levels and the World Water Assessment Programme, a collective and consolidated UN system-wide assessment and reporting facility which provides analysis and data on the state of global freshwater and status review of the attainment of the water and sanitation targets.
	To promote sustainable access to safe drinking water, my Department's activities at the international and national levels are looking to address the issues of political will, institutional capacity to provide and maintain services, scaling up initiatives to increase coverage, and long term sustainability incorporating cost-recovery and maintenance.

Somalia

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what development aid has been made available in each of the last two years to Somalia.

Clare Short: We provided over £2.8 million for Somalia in 2001 and over £1.5 million in 2002 This included contributions to the International Committee of the Red Cross' and United Nation's Appeals for Somalia, as well as activities such as primary health care, emergency nutrition, health assistance and water rehabilitation (through non-governmental agencies such as Action Contre la Faim, Medecins sans Frontieres, Norwegian People's Aid and World Vision).
	We have also supported Somali women's participation in the peace process and local elections in Somaliland.
	In addition, DFID's imputed share of EC expenditure in Somalia for 1999 and 2000 (the latest years for which figures are available) totalled £5 million.
	Our engagement with Somalia focuses on three areas: (i) strengthening regions that have achieved sustained stability (e.g. Somaliland) and seeing what lessons we can help transfer to other parts of the country; (ii) supporting the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) led peace process and (iii) the continuation of the current humanitarian programme in war-affected areas, particularly in the south.

UN Humanitarian Assessment Missions

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to her answer of 5 February 2003, Official Report, column 291W, on Central Africa, when she expects United Nations humanitarian assessment missions to enter the zones under rebel control.

Clare Short: To date, no humanitarian NGO or UN agency has been able to access zones under rebel control to assess the humanitarian and health needs of the population. We understand that a UN humanitarian assessment mission that was due to visit rebel zones on 6 February has been postponed; we have no details on when this will be rescheduled.

Water and Sanitation Projects

Candy Atherton: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what her expenditure plans are for financial assistance for water and sanitation projects, in absolute terms and as a proportion of the Department budget; and what proportion of the Departmental budget was allocated as financial assistance for water and sanitation projects, in (a) 2001–02 and (b) 2000–01.

Clare Short: In financial year 2001–02, my Department spent £87.2 million on water and sanitation related outcomes of various projects across its bilateral assistance programmes. Expenditure in 2000–01 was £90.6 million. In 2001–02, spending on water and sanitation accounted for approximately 6 per cent. of bilateral expenditure (£1,506 million). 70 per cent. of the expenditure, approximately £63 million, was spent on water and sanitation in 2001–02, being split 60:40 between urban and rural. 2001–02 was the first year in recent times that the urban sector received more support than the rural.
	In terms of geographical allocation, Asia was the dominant recipient region (47 per cent. in 2001–02 and 42 per cent. in 2000–01), followed by Africa (31 per cent. and 32 per cent. respectively).
	New commitments to the water and sanitation sector made during 2001–02 totalled £86.2 million.

Water and Sanitation Projects

Candy Atherton: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what proportion of the Department's financial assistance for water and sanitation projects was allocated to institutional capacity and human resources in (a) 2000–01 and (b) 2001–02; and what proportion will be allocated in (i) 2002–03 and (ii) 2003–04.

Clare Short: My Department's expenditure on water supply and sanitation has remained broadly static between 2000–02, at approximately £63 million, which accounts for 70 per cent. of the total water sector expenditure. Of that, 60 per cent. was allocated to urban and 40 per cent. to rural water and sanitation programmes. Total expenditure in the water sector was £90.6 million in 2000–01 and £87.2 million in 2001–02. Figures are not yet available for 2002–03. New commitments to the water and sanitation sector made during 2001–02 totalled £86.2 million.
	We are not able to disaggregate expenditure data to determine precise allocation to specific activities within the water supply and sanitation sector. However the underpinning premise of all our water and sanitation programmes is to build and strengthen institutional capacity and human resource capacity in developing countries.
	In addition to our work through our Country programmes, our Knowledge and Research (KAR) programme works to encourage our engagement with Southern institutions to encourage capacity building of formal and informal poor urban communities to improve local water and sanitation services. Additionally, through our resource centres, OASIS and WELL, my Department is actively engaging with developing countries and their supporting institutions to build human resource capacity within the water and sanitation sector.

World Food Programme (Southern Africa)

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development when figures for the WFP distribution of food aid for Southern Africa for January will be made available.

Clare Short: The figures for the WFP distribution of food aid for Southern Africa for January are due to be made available in early March.
	I will place a copy in the House Library as soon as they become available.

Zimbabwe

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment she has made of food shortages in Zimbabwe.

Clare Short: The latest Zimbabwe Vulnerability Assessment Committee survey indicates that 7.2 million people are currently in need of emergency food aid. The WFP and bilateral programmes aim to target 40 per cent. of needs, with the Government of Zimbabwe and the private sector responsible for the greater part of the response. Government reports imports of around 700,000 tonnes of maize to date, but the distribution of this food is not transparent, and the private sector has been excluded from participation.
	The performance of the World Food Programme and its implementing partners has improved steadily. In January 2003, 3.3 million people were fed, and another 2 million people received supplementary food through bilateral programmes. The WFP is close to meeting its revised target of feeding 4.5 million people in February 2003, and 5 million in March 2003. Contributions and pledges to the WFP emergency appeal mean that the main WFP pipeline is 83 per cent. full until June of 2003.
	Prospects for the coming year are under assessment. Insufficient maize was planted and the lack of fertilizers and rainfall raise the prospect of another poor production year. The capacity of the Government of Zimbabwe to continue to import maize in quantity is of concern, and it is already clear that continued international assistance will be needed. Donors are already planning for the future, and urging Government to ease price controls, which are distorting internal markets, and to open importation to the private sector to help meet needs.

Zimbabwe

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the humanitarian effects of the outbreak of foot and mouth disease in Zimbabwe.

Clare Short: The current FMD outbreak started in August 2001 at the time of the farm invasions, when fences were destroyed and domestic cattle were allowed
	to mingle with wild buffalo that carry the disease. Since then the illegal movement of animals and livestock theft has widened the geographic area of the outbreak.
	Although the disease is highly infectious it appears to have a lesser impact in local domestic livestock, which although they become ill rarely die. There are fears however that the disease could spread to the more susceptible dairy animals. Exports of beef, dairy and pork products have been banned, halting the country's US$ 60 million export trade.
	As smallholders own most of the cattle in Zimbabwe they are exposed to restrictions on animal movements and receive lower prices for their animals from infected areas. Foreign exchange shortages are limiting efforts to vaccinate animals at risk. Despite the best efforts of the veterinary services to control the outbreak there is neither the funding nor the political will to prevent illegal movement and restore the wildlife fences.

TRANSPORT

Alternative Fuels

Jonathan Sayeed: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether she has issued guidelines to local authorities on the installation of facilities for the provision of (a) liquefied petroleum gas and (b) compressed natural gas.

David Jamieson: Planning Policy Guidance note 13 states that local authorities
	"should look favourably at proposals" to provide liquefied petroleum gas and natural gas infrastructure,
	"in order to deliver wider environmental objectives".

London Airports (Rail Access)

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the level of security for rail access to London airports.

David Jamieson: The Department has objectively assessed all railway stations to ensure the security requirements in place are appropriate depending on the risk.

Transport Security

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the level of security at (a) transport infrastructure facilities other than airports and (b) railways.

David Jamieson: In addition to airports, the Department for Transport sets the security standards in the UK for the maritime, Channel Tunnel and railway industries. The Department's security inspectors regularly monitor the security arrangements at, for example, ports, railway stations and the Channel Tunnel to ensure that the required standards are, and continue to be, met.
	My Department's approach is to manage the risk to the industries arising from the threat of a terrorist attack. The security measures imposed seek to minimise the industries' vulnerabilities while recognising operational realities. The Government's aim is to set the measures to counter the risk.
	All the security programmes are kept under continuous review. It is not our practice to detail the required security measures for obvious reasons.

Zero-sulphur Fuels

Crispin Blunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what definition the Government uses of zero sulphur road transport fuel; what the present plans are for the introduction of zero sulphur motor transport fuels in the UK; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: The Secretary of State for Transport has responsibility for road fuel quality matters.
	A Council and European Parliament directive, adopted at 3rd Reading on 6 February 2003, sets a maximum sulphur content of l0mg/kg for all petrol and diesel sold in the EU as from 1 January 2009. Other fuel properties are also defined in this directive, which is due to be published in the Official Journal of the European Community shortly. Fuels to this quality are generally referred to as "sulphur-free" or "zero sulphur" fuel. The Government will be introducing an amendment to the Motor Fuel (Composition and Content) Regulations to incorporate the directive requirements later this year.
	The directive also requires Member States to ensure that petrol and diesel fuel to this quality is available on an "appropriately balanced geographical basis" from 1 January 2005 in order that it is available for the latest technology vehicles that can take best advantage of it. The Government are considering options, in conjunction with the oil industry, as to how best to achieve this objective.

A21

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps have been taken by the Highways Agency to evaluate the potential environmental impacts of route improvements to the A21.

David Jamieson: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 3 February 2003, Official Report, columns 35–37W.

Air Transport (Consultation)

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the impact of the inclusion of Gatwick Airport in the Government's consultation exercise on the (a) scope and (b) validity of proposals at other regional airports.

David Jamieson: The forecasts for regional airports outside the South East and East of England, set out in the consultation documents published on 23 July 2002, were based on a range of policy scenarios which made alternative assumptions about the total quantum of capacity in the South East airports system. Our modelling suggests that the exact location of that capacity would have only a marginal impact on prospective demand at regional airports and would, therefore, not significantly affect the validity of the proposals for those airports.
	The consultation remains open in all regions and will continue to do so until four months after the revised South East consultation document is published. We will continue to welcome comments on the proposals in those documents and any serious worked up alternatives until the consultation is finally concluded.

Air Transport (Consultation)

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will allow a period of two months between the issue of his response to the consultation process on the future development of air transport in the United Kingdom and the publication of the White Paper.

David Jamieson: We shall publish the Government's conclusions in a White Paper later this year.
	We also intend to publish a summary of the responses to the consultation. However, in view of the very large number of responses we have received, and the need to check that the summary of them is accurate and complete, we cannot give any undertakings about how soon we could publish the summary.

British Airports Authority

Jonathan Sayeed: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures he is taking to encourage the British Airports Authority in England to introduce low emission vehicles.

David Jamieson: The British Airports Authority (BAA) has already introduced a number of low-emission vehicles at its airports, particularly Gatwick and Heathrow. These vehicles, which are in most cases eligible for Government grants under the Powershift programme, can make a small but significant improvement to local air quality in and around airports. BAA is also helping a number of local authorities to develop air quality action plans where its airports contribute to local air pollution problems. These action plans are likely to include further commitments to reducing emissions of pollutants from BAA's vehicle fleet.

Channel Tunnel Rail Link

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what security measures have been put in place along the route of the channel tunnel rail link; what discussions he has had with (a) the rail industry and (b) Home Office Ministers on security on the channel tunnel rail link route; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: My officials have held detailed discussions with London and Continental Railways, the promoters of the channel tunnel rail link, about security measures. Any further disclosure regarding these security measures would not be in the public interest.

Croydon Tramlink

Gwyneth Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the viability of the special purpose vehicles entered into between Amey and Croydon Tramlink.

David Jamieson: Croydon Tramlink is a matter for the Mayor and Transport for London. I understand from them that there is no risk to the continued operation of the system.

Cycle Helmets

Jane Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the effects on incidence and severity of injuries to cyclists as a result of increased cycle helmet wearing in the UK;
	(2)  whether his Department has assessed the relative safety merits of (a) promoting helmet wearing for cyclists and (b) promoting helmet wearing for (i) car drivers and (ii) pedestrians.

David Jamieson: The Department commissioned an independent review of the effectiveness of cycle helmets, which was published at the end of November 2002 as Road Safety Research Report Number 30. Among other things, it concluded that bicycle helmets are effective at reducing the incidence and severity of head, brain and upper facial injuries. Also, the Bicycle Helmet Initiative Trust has been running a cycle helmet promotion scheme in Reading since 1992. During that time, cycle helmet use by children has trebled and there has been a 45 per cent. reduction in the number of hospital treated head injuries.
	We have not made a similar assessment for pedestrians and car occupants.

Cycle Helmets

Jane Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of reports 286 and 365 published by the Transport Research Laboratory on the effects on cycle use of promotional campaigns to encourage cycle helmet wearing.

David Jamieson: Cycle helmet wearing rates observed on major built-up roads have increased significantly from 16 per cent. in 1994 to 22 per cent. in 1999. TRL Report 286 is principally a study of observed cycle helmet wearing rates in 1996. The report includes an assessment of current local authority initiatives to promote cycle helmet wearing and observed wearing rates but does not provide sufficient evidence to draw any firm conclusions about the effect of promotional campaigns on the levels of cycling.
	Our objectives to increase cycling and improve the safety of cyclists are complementary. A key component in making cycling more popular is to make it a safer and more pleasant activity. Cycle helmets are effective at reducing head, brain and upper facial injuries, so encouraging the use of cycle helmets is one of many approaches to improving the safety of cyclists on our roads. A number of other approaches are summarised in TRL Report 365.

English Nature

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent meetings he has had with English Nature; what was discussed; and if he will place a copy of the minutes in the Library.

David Jamieson: As with previous Administrations, and in line with exemptions 2 and 7 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information, it is not this Government's normal practice to release details of specific meetings or their content, as these discussions may have taken place on a confidential basis. All such contacts are conducted in accordance with the rules set out in the Ministerial Code, the Civil Service Code, and Guidance for Civil Servants: Contacts with Lobbyists. Copies of these documents are available in the Libraries of the House.

Freight Access Grants

Gwyneth Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the charge in lorry miles as a result of the freezing of freight and track access grants; and if he will list the companies which will have their freight and track access grants frozen, with the dates on which the freeze will take effect.

David Jamieson: I refer my hon. Friend to my answer to the hon. Member for Vale of York (Miss McIntosh) on 13 February 2003, Official Report, column 897W.

Greater London Assembly

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what financial assistance his Department gave to the Greater London Assembly in 2002; and for what projects.

David Jamieson: The London Assembly is part of the Greater London Authority. It is responsible for scrutinising and reviewing the Mayor's exercise of his statutory functions. It has particular power to investigate, and prepare reports on actions and decisions taken by the Mayor or any member of the Greater London Authority. The London Assembly's specific costs are part of the overall Greater London Authority budget which is proposed each year by the mayor and is subject to the Assembly's agreement.
	The GLA grants from the Department for Transport in 2002–03 are as follows:
	GLA Transport Grant £1,024.118 million.

IT Contracts

Jonathan Sayeed: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list IT contracts in his Department and its predecessors above £50 million in each year of the last 10 years; what the inception date for each system was; when it became fully functional; when it became fully debugged; and what the cost of over-runs has been.

David Jamieson: The Department is aware of two contracts meeting the criteria.
	DSA let a contract for the delivery of the screen based driving theory test from the inception date of 4 January 2000 until 3 September 2004. The contract value is £80 million in total. The system was fully functional from the inception date and did not need to be debugged. There have been no cost over-runs.
	The Vehicle Inspectorate Agency awarded a contract for MOT Computerisation in February 2000. The contract value is £230 million. The planned completion date for full functionality is spring 2004. Cost has overrun by £4 million.

Laptop Computers

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many laptop computers were used by (a) Ministers and special advisers and (b) officials in his Department in each year since 1995; how many were (i) lost and (ii) stolen; what their cost was; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: The information requested on the use of laptop computers in each year since 1995 is not available centrally or in the form requested, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	Since the establishment of the Department for Transport on 29 May 2002, there has been one reported case of a lost laptop computer, at a cost of £1,011. For the figures of the Department's predecessors, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Member for Southampton, Test (Dr. Whitehead) on 29 January 2002, Official Report, Volume 379, columns 182–84W, to the right hon. and learned Member for North-East Fife (Mr. Campbell).

Light Dues

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much was raised in light dues in the latest available year; and what his estimate is of the amount paid (a) per merchant ship per voyage and (b) by each fishing vessel (i) per voyage and (ii) per year.

David Jamieson: The total income from light dues for 2001–02 was £74,785,262 of which £696,566 was paid by fishing vessels and tugs.
	Light dues rates for merchant vessels in 2001–02 were levied at 0.41p per registered ton. Fishing vessels and tugs paid an annual rate of £202.00 for the first 10 metres and £21.00 for each metre of length in excess of 10 metres.
	The rates were reduced in April 2002 to £0.40p per registered ton for merchant vessels and a cap of 40,000 tons was introduced, making the maximum charge payable £16,000 per voyage, to reduce the burden of light dues falling on the largest vessels. The rates for fishing vessels and tugs were also reduced to an annual payment of £190.00 for the first 10 metres and £20.00 for each metre thereafter.
	Once a merchant vessel has paid light dues, there is no further liability for a period of one month from that date. Furthermore, no more than seven payments are required in any fiscal year. We therefore do not hold information on merchant vessel movements beyond the seven voyage limit. Neither do we hold records on fishing vessel or tug activity.

Liquefied Petroleum Gas

Helen Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the cumulative investment by the private sector in automotive liquefied petroleum gas refuelling infrastructure; how many automotive liquefied petroleum gas refuelling outlets there are in the United Kingdom; and how many car manufacturers offer liquefied petroleum gas models in the United Kingdom.

David Jamieson: There are currently over 1,100 LPG refuelling sites in the UK. The financial detail of this substantial investment in the technology is commercial information, private to the companies concerned. Eight vehicle manufacturers now offer LPG cars, in addition to the cars for which conversions are available. PowerShift grants are available for both purchase of new LPG cars, and conversions, which deliver the required environmental improvements.

Ministerial Speeches

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will place in the Library a copy of the speech given by the Transport Minister to the Lunar Society on 8 February.

John Spellar: A speech text is not available—I spoke from notes.

Overweight Vehicles

Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the cost to (a) his Department and (b) local authorities of damage done to UK roads by overweight vehicles in (i) 1999, (ii) 2000 and (iii) 2001.

David Jamieson: These figures are difficult to estimate, since they would require a detailed knowledge of the types of vehicle concerned, the extent of their overloading, the roads that they travelled on, and the distances they travelled. These figures are not available.
	Two thirds of heavy goods vehicle mileage occurs on motorways and trunk roads. On these roads carriageways and bridges are designed to cater for overweight vehicles, and the effect of these vehicles is too small to quantify when compared to the cumulative effect of traffic over the life of a road.
	Most modern articulated lorries are capable of carrying more than their normal operational weight safely. Overloading offences declined with the introduction of 40 tonne lorries in January 1999, and declined further when 44 tonne lorries were introduced in February 2001.

Pedestrian Crossings

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will amend the Zebra, Pelican and Puffin Pedestrian Crossings Regulations and General Directions 1997 to allow for the part-time operation of flashing beacons.

David Jamieson: Zebra crossings operate 24 hours a day and part-time operation of beacons could be taken to imply that this was not the case. It would also remove an important safety element that warns drivers that they are approaching a zebra crossing. There is, therefore, a real danger that adopting this proposal would increase accidents at pedestrian crossings at times when the flashing beacons are turned off. In view of this, we have no plans to make this amendment to the regulations.

Rail Maintenance Contracts

Gwyneth Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the maintenance contracts which have been awarded to private firms by the SRA since its inception; and if he will list the maintenance firms which have had their contracts prematurely terminated by the SRA.

John Spellar: Railway asset maintenance is not dealt with by the SRA.

Rail Services

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to improve rail journey times between Leeds and Sheffield.

David Jamieson: The Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) is working with Midland Main Line to implement the latter's franchise commitment to provide an hourly non-stop service from Leeds to London, all of which will call at Sheffield. This will represent a substantial increase in the number of non-stop services between Leeds and Sheffield, although journey times will be largely unchanged.

Railway Inspectorate

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the total value was of (a) technical and financial contracts, (b) technical consultants used on a call-off basis and (c) financial consultants used on a call-off basis, by Her Majesty's Railway Inspectorate, in each year since 1992.

David Jamieson: The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) does not let financial contracts and therefore has no information in respect of financial contracts or financial consultants.
	The total value of work commissioned by HMRI for technical contracts in each year since 1992 is as follows:
	
		£000
		
			  External Research External support via call-off arrangements 
		
		
			 1992–93 9.3 60.9 
			 1993–94 90.5 14.9 
			 1994–95 143 50 
			 1995–96 77.1 244 
			 1996–97 214.6 55.4 
			 1997–98 526.5 48.1 
			 1998–99 263.3 61.1 
			 1999–2000 878.9 24.9 
			 2000–01 89.6 798.3 
			 2001–02 241.5 264.5 
			 2002–03(54) 314 127 
		
	
	(54) Figures cover period to 2 February 2003

Railways (External Consultants)

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the total value was of (a) technical and financial contracts, (b) technical consultants used on a call-off basis and (c) financial consultants used on a call-off basis, by the Office of the Rail Regulator, in each year since 1992.

David Jamieson: The table shows expenditure by the Office of the Rail Regulator for the year 2001–02 and since 1 April 2002. Figures for the period before 2001 could be provided only at disproportionate cost to the Office of the Rail Regulator.
	
		£
		
			  2001–02 Since 1 April 2002 
		
		
			  
			  
			 (a) Technical and financial contracts 383,000 226,000 
			 (b) Technical consultants, call off 351,000 458,000 
			 (c) Financial consultants, call off 378,000 695,000

Railways (External Consultants)

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the total value was of (a) technical and financial contracts, (b) technical consultants used on a call-off basis and (c) financial consultants used on a call-off basis, by the (i) Health and Safety Commission and (ii) Health and Safety Executive relating to railway matters in each year since 1992.

David Jamieson: The Health and Safety Commission (HSC) does not commission its own work since the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), as set up under the terms of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, has executive responsibility for commissioning appropriate work on HSC's behalf.
	The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) does not let financial contracts and therefore has no information in respect of financial contracts or financial consultants.
	The total value of work commissioned by HSE (including HMRI) for technical contracts relating to railway matters in each year since 1992 is as follows:
	
		£000
		
			  External research External support via call-off contract arrangements 
		
		
			 1992–93 9.3 60.9 
			 1993–94 90.5 14.9 
			 1994–95 143 50 
			 1995–96 77.1 244 
			 1996–97 214.6 55.4 
			 1997–98 526.5 48.1 
			 1998–99 263.3 61.1 
			 1999–2000 878.9 24.9 
			 2000–01 (55)95.1 798.3 
			 2001–02 (55)248 264.5 
			 2002–03(56) 314 421.5 
		
	
	(55) These figures include rail-related research commissioned by HSE's Safety Policy Directorate as well as HSE's HM Railway Inspectorate (HMRI).
	(56) Figures cover period to 2 February 2003.

Renewable Energy

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what changes in unit payments for electricity have resulted from the switch by his Department to purchasing renewable energy which is exempt from the Climate Change Levy.

David Jamieson: In response to Government targets, my Department has switched a number of its sites over to the purchase of electricity from renewable energy sources that are exempt from the Climate Change Levy. Where this has taken place, the actual average price was 4.07p/kWh, the 'standard' electricity price would have been 3.9p/kWh, so the increase due to the purchase of this renewable energy is 0.17p/kWh or 4.3 per cent.

Road Building

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many of the schemes in the Government's targeted programme of improvements have been through all their statutory processes.

David Jamieson: There are 72 schemes in the Targeted Programme of Improvements and 28 of these, including six already delivered, have been through all their statutory processes.

Road Building

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the roads schemes where a full Environmental Statement under Directive 97/11/EC was produced before inclusion in the Government's targeted programme of improvements.

David Jamieson: A full Environmental Statement under Directive 97/11/EC was produced for the following 33 schemes, before inclusion in the Government's targeted programme of improvements; Al Willowburn-Denwick Improvement, A1(M) Ferrybridge-Hook Moor, A1(M) Wetherby-Walshford, A2/A282 Dartford Improvement, A5 Nesscliffe Bypass, A6 Great Glen Bypass, A6 Rushden and Higham Ferrers Bypass, A6 Rothwell-Desborough Bypass, A6 Clapham Bypass, A6 Alvaston, A10 Wadesmill-Colliers End, All Roudham Heath-Attleborough Improvement, A21 Lamberhurst Bypass, A27 Polegate Bypass, A41 Aston Clinton Bypass, A43 Silverstone Bypass, A43 Whitfield Turn-Brackley Hatch Improvement, A43 M40-B4031 Dualling, A46 Newark-Lincoln Improvement, A63 Selby Bypass, A66 Stainburn and Great Clifton Bypass, A120 Stansted-Braintree Improvement, A249 Iwade-Queenborough Improvement, A500 Basford, Hough, Shavington Bypass, A650 Bingley Relief Road, A1033 Hedon Road Improvement, M25 J12–15 Widening, M60 J5–8 Widening, M6 Carlisle-Guardsmill Extension, A595 Parton-Lillyhall Improvement, Al Dishforth-Leeming, Al Bramham-Wetherby (including Wetherby Bypass), Al Leeming-Barton.

Road Building

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps are taken by the Highways Agency to evaluate the potential effects of road building schemes on (a) SSSIs, (b) AONBs and (c) national parks before Ministerial approval.

David Jamieson: All road building schemes undertaken by the Highways Agency are subject to environmental assessment. Potential effects on SSSIs, AONBs and National Parks are considered as part of this assessment process.

Road Building

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list completed road building programmes that have affected designated (a) SSSIs, (b) AONBs and (c) national parks in each year since 1997.

David Jamieson: The following major trunk road schemes completed in or since 1997 (completion year in brackets) affected:
	(a) SSSIs
	A34 Newbury bypass (1998);
	M5J8–9 Widening (1998);
	M1-A1 Lofthouse-Bramham Link Roads (1999);
	M66 Denton-Middleton Contract 1 (2000);
	A13 Thames Avenue to Wennington (1997);
	(b) AONBs
	M25 Junctions 8–10 Widening (1998);
	A417/A419 Swindon-Gloucester DBFO (1998);
	(c) National parks—none.

Road Building

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list road schemes proposed by local authorities in England and Wales in local transport plans that will affect (a) sites of special interest, (b) areas of outstanding scientific natural beauty, (c) national parks and (d) internationally designated sites; and in each case whether a preferred route has been announced.

David Jamieson: The following schemes listed, which have been accepted or provisionally accepted in local transport plans, will have some effect on such areas as indicated by an (a), (b), (c) or (d) as appropriate. Local authorities will work with the statutory environmental bodies to implement appropriate mitigation. Where a preferred route has been announced this is indicated by "PR". My Department is not responsible for road schemes in Wales.
	Oakham Bypass—(a) PR
	A43 Corby Link Road—(a) PR
	Brunei Link & Harnham Relief Road—(a) PR
	Weymouth Relief Road—(a) (b) PR
	East Luton Corridor—(b)
	A158 Coastal Access, Lincolnshire—(b) PR
	Carlisle Northern Development Route—(d) PR

Road Building

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list road building programmes by county.

David Jamieson: A table containing a list of Highways Agency targeted programme of improvements road schemes by county and a list of English local authority major road schemes by local highway authority has been placed in the Libraries of the House.

Road Gritting

Gwyneth Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the authorities in England who have the direct responsibility for gritting trunk roads; and what the authorities' new responsibilities are for gritting roads.

David Jamieson: The operation and gritting of trunk roads in England is the responsibility of the Highways Agency.
	In England there is no explicit statutory duty on a highway authority to remove ice, but we shall introduce one at a suitable legislative opportunity.

Road Quietening Schemes

Patrick McLoughlin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the road quietening schemes that are being examined by his Department for the ASO.

David Jamieson: The following lengths of A50 are included in the Ten Year Plan for Transport with a view to replacing the existing concrete surface with a quieter material:
	Doveridge Bypass
	Derby Southern Bypass
	Foston, Hatton, Hilton Bypass, and
	Blythe Bridge to Uttoxeter.

Rural Road Hierarchy

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the Government will implement a new rural road hierarchy.

David Jamieson: Following the publication of the Rural Road Hierarchy Report in November 2001 we are progressing work to improve safety across our rural road network. This includes the development of a framework to assess what speeds are appropriate together with surveys of what speeds are actually being driven on rural roads. The first results of this work should be available shortly and will feed into other work including a review of the guidance on setting speed limits due to start later this year.

Signage

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the Circular which will explain the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2002 will provide guidance to highway authorities on avoiding sign clutter in the countryside; and when it will be published.

David Jamieson: DfT Circular 02/2003 was published on 31 January. It explains the differences between the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions (TSRGD) 2002 and the TSRGD 1994 that they replace. It does not contain guidance on sign clutter. However the Department will be publishing updated guidance later this year which will remind signing practitioners that signs should be used sparingly whether in the countryside or in towns. The revised Chapter 4 of the Traffic Signs Manual, on the use of warning signs, which we expect to publish in the summer, will provide advice on how to provide effective signing while minimising environmental intrusion. Revised guidance on the use of directional signs to tourist destinations will remind local authorities of the need to minimise the environmental impacts of signs, particularly in rural areas.

Speed Limits

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the highway authorities which have a policy of adopting a 30 mph speed limit as the norm through villages; and what action the Government are taking in respect of highway authorities which have not adopted a policy of 30 mph speed limits as the norm through villages.

David Jamieson: This information is not held centrally. Local highway authorities have powers to set speed limits on their roads according to local needs.
	The Department is however developing guidance to local highway authorities on village entry signing to assist with introducing 30mph speed limits in villages —
	supported by other work that is seeking to simplify the process.

Strategic Rail Authority

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which organisations provided (a) legal, (b) financial and (c) auditing services valued at over £25,000 to the Strategic Rail Authority in 2002.

David Jamieson: In the calendar year 2002, the following firms provided legal, financial and audit services with a value of over £25,000:
	
		
			 Firm Advice 
		
		
			 Cobbetts Legal 
			 Eversheds Legal 
			 Field Fisher Waterhouse Legal 
			 Mills and Reeve Legal 
			 Rees and Freres Legal 
			 HMPGLCD Legal 
			 Hollingsworth Bissell Legal 
			 Linklaters Legal 
			 Thomas Edgar Church Adams Legal 
			 PriceWaterhouseCoopers Legal 
			 Clifford Chance Legal 
			 Vizards Legal 
			 C. Hoare and Co Legal 
			 Brodies Legal 
			 KPMG Legal 
			 Arups Legal 
			 Gibb Legal 
			 Booz Allen and Hamilton Financial 
			 Eversheds Financial 
			 Lazard Brothers and Co Financial 
			 KPMG Financial 
			 Linklaters and Paines Financial 
			 Marsh UK Ltd. Financial 
			 Nichols Group Financial 
			 PriceWaterhouseCoopers Financial 
			 Operis Group Financial 
			 PKF Financial 
			 KPMG Audit 
			 PriceWaterhouseCoopers Audit 
			 PKF Audit 
			 Baker Tilley Audit 
			 Ernst and Young Audit

Thames Gateway

Jon Cruddas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to establish a light rail link to Dagenham Dock and Rainham.

David Jamieson: None. Light rail schemes in London are a matter for the Mayor and Transport for London.

Traffic Calming

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what guidelines and duties there are for local authorities on the imposition of traffic calming measures in mixed residential and industrial areas.

David Jamieson: There is no specific duty on local highway authorities to impose traffic calming measures. However, they may wish to consider introducing them to meet their duty to have, as far as practicable, safe movement of traffic on roads within their area. Any measures implemented must be in accordance with the "Highways (Road Humps) Regulations 1999" or the "Highways (Traffic Calming) Regulations 1999", including the requirement to consult with representatives of those likely to be affected. The Department has issued guidance on traffic calming including Traffic Advisory Leaflets, and the Road Safety Good Practice Guide and has contributed to guidelines published by professional bodies.

Traffic Light Repairs

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what guidelines and duties there are for local authorities on the prompt repair of traffic lights;
	(2)  what (a) guidance he gives and (b) duties are laid upon local authorities, to repair defective traffic lights within a specified period.

David Jamieson: Technical Standard TD24, All-Purpose Trunk Roads Inspection and Maintenance of Traffic Signals and Associated Equipment, was produced by the Highways Agency for their roads but also provides guidance to local authorities. It includes reference to non-routine maintenance. Faults causing safety hazards or unacceptable delay to road users should be attended as a matter of urgency with cover available 24 hours per day, seven days a week. Response and repair times will depend on the particular local circumstances and will be subject to contractual arrangements between local authorities and their contractors. TD24 is part of the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges and is available from the Stationary Office.
	Local authorities also have a general duty to secure the "expeditious, convenient and safe movement of vehicular and other traffic (including pedestrians)" under section 122 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984.

Transport Schemes (Appraisal Review)

Jon Cruddas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he will announce his review of the system for appraising new transport schemes; what the terms of reference are for the review; and when he hopes to complete the review.

David Jamieson: The system for appraising new transport schemes is updated and revised periodically. At present, we are undertaking revisions to reflect the guidance in the Treasury's revised Green Book, "Appraisal and Evaluation in Central Government", published on 17 January 2003, and expect to issue these early in March 2003. We have undertaken research into assessing regeneration impacts following publication of the 1999 SACTRA (Standing Advisory Committee on Trunk Road Assessment) report, "Transport and the Economy". The results of Phase 1 of this work are published on the Department's website. We expect draft revised guidance on this topic to be issued in mid-2003.

DEFENCE

Aircraft Carrier Orders

Jeffrey M Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what proportion of the cost of designing and building the two recently ordered aircraft carriers is to be paid to (a) BAE Systems and (b) Thales;
	(2)  how the programme to design and build the two recently ordered aircraft carriers is to be shared between BAE Systems and Thales; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: Our two new Future Aircraft Carriers (CVFs) have not yet been ordered. On 30 January 2003, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence announced the way forward for CVF. Our conclusion was that, to obtain value for money and provide the best capability, an alliance approach would offer the best meansof delivering a programme of this magnitude. We envisage that the alliance will be led by BAE Systems as the preferred Prime Contractor, with responsibility for project and shipbuilding management. Thales UK will assume a major role as the Key Supplier of the whole ship design. We intend the Ministry of Defence to take up a formal role within the Alliance. Negotiations on the alliance arrangements are now underway, and it is therefore not yet possible to state what proportion of the costs will be paid to BAE Systems or Thales. It is not intended to place the Prime Contract for the Demonstration and Manufacture phase of the CVF programme, during which the ships will actually be built, until the spring of 2004.

Biochemical Protection Suits

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of (a) Royal Navy and (b) Royal Marines personnel scheduled for deployment to the Gulf (i) have been and (ii) will be issued with CBW protection suits.

Adam Ingram: All Royal Navy and Royal Marine personnel deployed to the Gulf will have access to sufficient CBW suits to meet our contingency plans.

Coastal Security

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the ability of the Royal Navy to (a) monitor and (b) prevent the landing of (i) terrorists and (ii) illegal immigrants from small boats on UK beaches.

Adam Ingram: The Home Office is responsible for United Kingdom counter-terrorism policy, and the lead for domestic security lies with the civil authorities. Royal Navy ships conduct many routine operations and exercises around the United Kingdom throughout the year, and any of these ships could be diverted to meet a requirement at the specific request of the civil authorities. In addition, the Fleet Ready Escort, a Frigate or Destroyer continuously available at a high state of readiness, is at short notice to respond to any incident in United Kingdom waters.

Correspondence

Jane Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 7 November, Official Report, column 477W, when he will write to the hon. Member for Reading, East.

Lewis Moonie: I replied to my hon. Friend today.

Defence Export Services Organisation

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the purpose is of the Defence Export Services organisation; what its net cost was in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: The purpose of the Defence Export Services Organisation (DESO) is to support legitimate defence exports, co-ordinating Government assistance to United Kingdom defence exporters and overseas customers interested in acquiring United Kingdom defence products.
	The net operating costs of DESO and related support functions over the last five financial years are as follows:
	
		
			 Financial Year £ million 
		
		
			 1997–98 14.380 
			 1998–99 16.010 
			 1999–2000 13.735 
			 2000–01 12.360 
			 2001–02 11.007 
		
	
	These costs are more than offset by financial benefits to the Defence budget arising from DESO's activities including economies of scale generated by exports for the Ministry of Defence's own procurement.

Defence Finance

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the scope for savings in the defence procurement budget as a consequence of increased European collaboration on defence procurement; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: Collaboration in defence programmes can bring economic benefits by sharing non-recurring costs and through economies of scale in production and, further through the life cycle, by sharing in service support and upgrade costs. Collaboration is considered in all equipment programmes when developing the procurement strategies to best meet the needs of our Armed Forces, but it is not an easy option. Harmonising requirements, aligning funding and approvals processes and meeting workshare expectations amongst anything from two partners upwards is rarely straightforward. Thus tune, cost and performance risks can be magnified in collaborative programmes. Overall, however, the benefits more than outweigh the potential disadvantages.

Defence Fire Service

John Maples: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence further to his answer of 10 February 2003, Official Report, column 506, on the Defence Fire Service, who made the decision locally not to respond to requests for assistance outside the perimeter; whether this decision was made (a) with the knowledge of and (b) on the instructions of a Government Minister; when the instruction was recognised as unnecessary; and whether the order was revoked (i) on the instructions of and (ii) with the knowledge of a Government Minister.

Adam Ingram: The decision that the fire appliances based at Kineton would not respond to requests for assistance outside the perimeter on days on which local fire brigades were taking industrial action was made by the Fire Station Commander, on the advice of the Commandant of the Depot, and an order to this effect was issued on 1 November 2002. An investigation into the circumstances at Kineton was carried out in early February and as a result the order was revoked on the authority of the Defence Fire Service (Army).
	Neither the decision to issue the original order nor its revocation was made on the instructions of, or with the knowledge of, a Government Minister.

Defence Procurement

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his estimate is of (a) cost overruns and (b) delivery delays in each UK military procurement project valued at £100 million and over in each year from 1990–91 to 2002–03; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: I refer the hon. Member to the Major Projects Reports covering the years in question. These provide cost and delivery information on the Ministry of Defence's major equipment projects. Copies are available in the Library of the House.Information on the remaining projects from the years in question estimated to cost £100 million and over is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost. Exemption 9 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information applies.

Eurofighter

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer on 27 January 2003, Official Report, column 638W, on the Eurofighter, if he will make a statement on the procedure for the booking and use of designated areas for testing Eurofighter jets; and if he will publish the rules covering supersonic flights.

Adam Ingram: I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

Fleet Readiness

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions since May 1997 the Royal Navy has not had at least one aircraft carrier immediately available for active service.

Adam Ingram: There has not been an occasion since May 1997 when the Royal Navy has not had at least one aircraft carrier available for active service.

Friendly Fire

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent measures the Royal Marines have adopted to avoid friendly fire incidents by (a) UK and (b) allied forces.

Adam Ingram: As stated in the answer given on 18 December 2002, Official Report, column 807W, to the hon. Member for Hereford (Mr. Keetch), tactics, techniques and procedures, situational awareness and target identification complement each other and form a triad of measures designed to achieve Combat Identification and minimise the risk of fratricide. In relation to possible operations in the Gulf, we are working closely with allies to establish robust arrangements on Combat Identification that maximise interoperability, and we will acquire additional equipment in time for any potential conflict to enable our forces, including the Royal Marines, to operate effectively alongside coalition forces.

Heathrow (Military Deployment)

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether armed forces personnel deployed to secure London Heathrow airport have been deployed with suits and respirators in preparation for a possible chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear attack.

Adam Ingram: The deployment of the armed forces and their equipment is determined by a number of factors including the task to be undertaken, the environment in which they are to operate and the threat that they face. In the case of the recent operation at Heathrow airport, the police and military personnel were not deployed with Chemical, Biological, Radiological or Nuclear equipment.

Helicopters

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many helicopters there are in the (a) Navy, (b) Army and (c) Air Force, broken down by type.

Adam Ingram: The number of helicopters in the Navy, Army and Air Force, broken down by type, as at 12 February 2003, are provided in the following table.
	
		
			 Helicopter Actual operating fleet Sustainment fleet(57) Disposal(58) Comments 
		
		
			 Navy 
			 Merlin Mk 1 28 15 0 — 
			 Sea King AEW Mk 2/7 9 4 0 — 
			 Sea King HU Mk 5 11 5 0 — 
			 Sea King ASW Mk 6 11 2 3 — 
			 Lynx HAS Mk 3 31 4 0 — 
			 Lynx HAS Mk 8 26 10 0 — 
			 Sea King Mk 4/MK 6c 32 9 0 — 
			 Army 
			 Lynx (59)100 20 0 JHC asset 
			 Gazelle (59)118 11 0 JHC asset 
			 Bell 212 3 0 0 JHC asset 
			 A 109 3 1 0 JHC asset 
			 Apache AH Mk 1 12 35 0 JHC asset 
			 Air Force 
			 Sea King Mk 318 18 1 0 — 
			 Sea King Mk 3a 5 1 0 JHC asset 
			 Merlin Mk 3 13 9 0 JHC asset 
			 Wessex HC 24 0 0 14 — 
			 Puma 35 (61)13 0 JHC asset 
			 Chinook Mk3 0 8 0 JHC asset 
			 Chinook Mk 2/2a 31 9 0 JHC asset 
		
	
	Notes:
	(57) The sustainment fleet includes helicopters undergoing scheduled base maintenance, those awaiting repair to accident damage, those that are in development and those held in reserve.
	(58) Helicopters awaiting disposal
	(59) Includes nine aircrat that are the School of Army Aviation assets.
	(60) Wessex Helicopters are no longer operationally in service.
	(61) Includes six aircraft recently purchased from Republic of South Africa to ensure enduring sustainability.

Hunting with Dogs

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what reports he has received of proposals for hunting with dogs on (a) Ministry of Defence land and (b) at the Colchester Garrison; and if he will take action to prevent such activity;
	(2)  what his policy is towards allowing Ministry of Defence land to be used for hunting with dogs; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: The Ministry of Defence has issued 27 licences for hunting with dogs on the Defence Estate for the 2002–03 season, including one for the Colchester area. In the absence of a statutory ban, my Department has no legal grounds on which to stop this activity, which has been undertaken under licensed conditions for many years on its estate. However, mindful of all the issues involved, foxhunting is restricted to those hunts that have traditionally held licences or enjoyed such rights on the Defence Estate.
	The current foxhunting season, (which began on 1 September 2002 and which ends on 30 April 2003), is being conducted under strict terms and conditions, agreed with the Master of Foxhounds Association.

Hunting with Dogs

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the last time hunting with dogs was permitted on (a) Ministry of Defence land and (b) at the Colchester Garrison; and on how many occasions since May 1997 such activity has taken place.

Lewis Moonie: The information regarding the number of times hunting with dogs has taken place on Ministry of Defence land is not held centrally. Hunting has taken place in the Colchester Garrison area on eight days since May 1997, the last occasion being 14 December 2000.

Incremental Acquisition

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the implications of the practice of incremental acquisition for (a) the cost of ownership of warships and other major vessels, with particular reference to the depreciation or write-off rate applied to equipment replaced by enhanced items, (b) adjustments to the base cost for the purpose of calculating annual carrying charges and (c) the calculation of depreciation bases generally.

Adam Ingram: I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

International Military Services

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what claims for payment against the Government of Iraq in respect of contracts with International Military Services are outstanding.

Adam Ingram: There are no claims for payment outstanding against the Government of Iraq in respect of contracts with International Military Services.

Land Mines (Gulf)

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the (a) possession and (b) possible use of landmines by Allied forces in the Gulf.

Adam Ingram: The United Kingdom as a State Party to the Ottawa Convention does not possess operational anti-personnel landmines and will not use them. Allies' intentions are a matter for them. United Kingdom Forces will not provide any assistance for the use of anti-personnel landmines.

Land-Attack Cruise Missiles

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the value of equipping future Type 45 destroyers with land-attack cruise missiles.

Adam Ingram: As was made clear in the SDR New Chapter in July 2002, in post-Cold War conventional military operations there has been an increased emphasis on the need for precision in the use of force, to minimise unintended casualties and accidental damage.
	The ability to conduct covert stand-off reconnaissance and surveillance, the accurate pin-pointing of targets, the updating and communication of targeting information in near real time and the ability to strike hard with a high degree of precision, will all be important. Land attack cruise missiles can play a key role in such a scenario. This capability is presently provided by submarine-launched Tomahawk missiles.
	The principal role of the Type 45 Destroyers will be Anti-Air Warfare. However, they are being designed and built with significant space and weight margins to enable incremental acquisition, should an emerging requirement necessitate a different equipment fit. Our requirements are being kept under review and, under such circumstances, the design could be modified to incorporate improved land attack capabilities, including a land attack cruise missile system.

Landmines Act

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to review Section 5 of the Landmines Act 1998.

Adam Ingram: None.

Military Secondments

Bill Tynan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many United Kingdom military personnel, broken down by rank and service, are currently (a) seconded to, (b) attached to, (c) under the operational command of and (d) on personnel exchanges with units or ships of the United States armed forces that (i) are deployed in South West Asia, the Gulf region or the Middle East, (ii) are on route to that region and (iii) have been ordered or alerted to deploy to that region.

Adam Ingram: As at 14 February 2003, 31 United Kingdom military personnel serving as British Exchange Officers with United States units were either deployed or warned to deploy to South West Asia, the Gulf Region and the Middle East.
	I am withholding information on the service and rank of these individuals under Exemption 1 (defence, security and international relations) of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

Military Secondments

Bill Tynan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements are in place for United Kingdom military personnel who are (a) seconded to, (b) attached to, (c) under the operational command of and (d) on personnel exchanges to armed forces in countries which become party to an armed conflict that the United Kingdom is not a party to.

Adam Ingram: Decisions on the arrangements for such United Kingdom military personnel would be made in the light of the circumstances pertaining at the time.

MRAV Programme

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on delays to the MRAV programme; and for what reasons he plans to procure fewer vehicles than was originally envisaged.

Adam Ingram: The tri-national MRAV programme remains within its original time and cost approvals. However, there have been delays to the delivery of the first prototype vehicle and the Integrated Logistics Support programme. All partners are only contractually committed to the end of the development phase of the MRAV programme. No formal decisions on the number of MRAV vehicles to be procured have yet been made. Our plans for all acquisition programmes are continually under review and MRAV is no exception.

Nancekuke

Candy Atherton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 10 February 2003, Official Report, columns 513–14, on RAF Portreath, what studies excluding environmental surveys have been undertaken by (a) the Government or (b) agencies on behalf of the Government with respect to (i) past and (ii) current activities at Nancekuke in Cornwall in the last 30 years.

Lewis Moonie: I will write to my hon. Friend and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Libraryof the House.

Naval Deployment

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportions of (a) Royal Navy and (b) Royal Marines (i) personnel and (ii) equipment are scheduled for (A) despatch to the Gulf, (B) other duties and (C) maintenance, repair and refit.

Adam Ingram: As at 18 February 2003, some 27 per cent. of Royal Navy surface ships and submarines, 15 per cent. of Royal Navy and 45 per cent. of Royal Marine trained personnel were deployed, or en-route, to the Gulf region. This compares with around 41 per cent. of Royal Navy surface ships and submarines, 14 per cent. of Royal Navy and 6 per cent. of Royal Marine trained personnel deployed on other tasks, including Operation Fresco. Some 32 per cent. of surface ships and submarines are currently in maintenance, repair or refit.
	No further major Royal Navy or Royal Marine deployments are currently scheduled for the Gulf.

Naval Refits

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made in establishing estimated through-life costs of warships and other RN and RFA vessels; whether the estimates will be published in the Annual Major Projects Report; and when key stages on the route to publication will be reached.

Adam Ingram: Whole life cost estimates are being developed for all major Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessels as part of the Ministry of Defence's Through Life Management Planning process. The first phase of this work is due to complete in March 2003. A note on progress in developing whole life cost information was contained in Major Projects Report 2002, copies of which are available in the Library of the House. It is planned that Major Projects Report 2003 will include whole life cost data on the 20 projects for which the main investment decision has been taken. This will include the Astute submarine, the Type 45 Destroyer and the Landing Ship Dock (Auxiliary). The National Audit Office expect to publish their report at the end of the year.

Naval Refits

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the HMS Glasgow refit will be complete; how much it will cost; whether it is on budget; what the target date is for completion; when the ship will be ready for service; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: HMS Glasgow has not undergone a refit. The ship was in extended readiness and regeneration work has been carried out in preparation for her re-joining the Fleet, to ease the short-term programming gap created by HMS Nottingham's unavailability. This package of work cost approximately £2.5 million, and was completed in December 2002 and within budget. On the return of ship's personnel from Operation Fresco, HMS Glasgow will undergo Sea Trials and training requirements before returning to the Fleet.
	This regeneration work will enable HMS Glasgow to be available for operations until HMS Nottingham returns to service in November 2004, after which, on current plans, she will be in Extended Readiness.

Naval Refits

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost is of the repairs being carried out on the HMS St. Albans; when it will be ready for service; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: The final cost of the incident involving HMS St. Albans, including her repair, is not yet known, but it is estimated to be less than £5 million. The repair work has been completed and the ship commenced harbour training on 11 February 2003. Although the crew from St. Albans have been assisting in Operation FRESCO, the ship is currently able to undertake some basic sea safety training, prior to the start of Operational Sea Training, scheduled for the end of March. This training is planned to complete in the summer and the vessel will then be available for operational tasking.

Naval Refits

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the (a) HMS Monmouth and (b) HMS Campbeltown refit will be complete; how much it will cost; whether it is on budget; what the target date is for completion; when the ship will be ready for service; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: HMS Monmouth's refit at Rosyth is planned for completion in June 2003 and following associated sea trials she is expected to be ready for operational deployment later that month. The final refit costs will be determined once all work is completed, but are expected to remain within budget and be in the region of £19 million.
	HMS Campbeltown's refit at Devonport is planned for completion in March 2003 and following associated sea trials she is expected to be ready for operational deployment in April 2003. Like HMS Monmouth, her final refit costs will be agreed once all work is completed, but are expected to remain within budget and be in the region of £10 million.
	Both refits involve necessary equipment refurbishment and enhancements to their operational and support systems.

Naval Rules of Engagement

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to change the rules of engagement as they apply to Royal Navy warships facing suicide attack by small craft.

Adam Ingram: Rules of engagement are classified as their disclosure could give an enemy information about the permissions and restrictions imposed on our forces. I am therefore withholding details in accordance with Exemption 1 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

Naval Vessels (Handover)

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what will be the (a) revenue received from Romania for and (b) cost of modernising and preparing for handover (i) HMS Coventry and (ii) HMS London.

Adam Ingram: The value to the United Kingdom of the first phase of the agreement is £116 million and includes the cost of modernisation and preparation of the ships for handover. I am withholding the details of the information requested in accordance with Exemption 13 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information as it is commercial in confidence.

Naval Vessels (Handover)

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the main items to be (a) removed, (b) replaced and (c) upgraded in preparing (i) HMS Coventry and (ii) HMS London for handover to Romania.

Adam Ingram: The Seawolf missile system, the towed array sonar and a number of smaller sensitive equipments will be removed from ex-HM Ships Coventry and London prior to handover to Romania. A medium range gun will be fitted together with an associated fire control system. Refurbished gas turbine units will be refitted into the ships and, in addition, the Command and Control System will be modified to take account of the weapons fit. No other major systems will be upgraded during the preparation phase.

Old Military Equipment

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his Department's policy is on recycling old military equipment.

Adam Ingram: Surplus and obsolete items are sold via the MOD's Disposal Services Agency (DSA) on a Governments-Government basis, through either competitive tender or a marketing partnership with Industry to achieve the maximum return for the taxpayer. The DSA has sole delegated authority to sell military equipment declared as surplus by the Armed Forces. Surplus equipment is sold either for re-utilisation for its original (military) purpose, for a secondary (commercial) purpose or for scrap.

Procurement

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  when the orders for the second batch of Astute class submarines will be placed; and for how many boats;
	(2)  whether the schedule for ordering later batches of Astute class submarines has been affected by the delayed building of the first batch.

Adam Ingram: An agreed programme for the first buy of Astute is a pre-requisite of any future orders. On current plans, a decision on the timing and detail of future submarine orders is expected later this year.

Procurement

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the Defence Procurement Agency expects to award a contract for the 5.56 mm light machine guns; how much these guns will weigh; how many units will be produced; when the guns will come into full service; what the length is of the contract; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: The Light Machine Gun requirement is for a weapon system with ancillaries that weighs less than 20 kg when loaded with a belt of 200 rounds. A contract for around 2,500 weapons is expected to be placed before the summer to achieve an approved in service date of 2004. The contract will take up to three years to complete.

Procurement

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to award a contract for the Light Forces Anti-Tank Guided Weapon System; how many units will be produced; what part of the Army will use it; when it will come into service; what the length is of the contract; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: The Light Forces Anti-Tank Guided Weapon System contract, for in excess of 350 systems, was placed on 7 February 2003 and is expected to be completed in 2010.
	The system is expected to enter service with the Joint Rapid Reaction Forces and the Mechanised Infantry in 2006.

Research and Development

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his estimate is of his Department's total expenditure on military research and development in each year from 1990–91 to 2003–04 (planned); and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: Research and Development figures for the years up to and including 2000–01 are published by the Defence Analytical Services Agency (DASA) in "UK Defence Statistics" and before 1992 were reported in "Volume 2 of the Statement on the Defence Estimates" (both of these are available in the Library of the House). All figures are net of receipts and include recoverable VAT, the Technology Demonstrator Programme (TDP) and certain other minor research items.
	On this basis the figures covering expenditure by the Ministry of Defence on Research and Development for 1990–91 to 2000–01, as published in UK Defence Statistics, are given as follows:
	
		Current prices in £ million
		
			 Year Research expenditure Development expenditure 
		
		
			  
			  
			 1990–91 412 1,926 
			 1991–92 466 2,091 
			 1992–93 513 1,568 
			 1993–94 654 1,625 
			 1994–95 665 1,366 
			 1995–96 676 1,394 
			 1996–97 705 1,440 
			 1997–98 656 1,655 
			 1998–99 620 1,476 
			 1999–2000 584 1,761 
			 2000–01 558 1,821 
		
	
	The Ministry of Defence does not have a specific research and development budget. There is a research budget covering non-nuclear research known as the Research Building Block. Separately, the MOD has a much larger budget for the acquisition of equipment within which some expenditure may be regarded as equipment development and some as equipment production. The development element of the acquisition expenditure is not used as a control total. The amount that is statistically counted as development (rather than production) in any one year is largely a consequence of the stage of the procurement cycle at which major equipment projects happen to be in the year in question. Expenditure on 'development' for 2001–02 to 2003–04 is therefore not yet separately identifiable.
	Research figures for the years 2001–02 to 2003–04 have been compiled according to the principles of Resource Accounting and Budgeting (RAB). The figures as follows are for the Research Building Block expenditure and forecasts. All the above figures for these three years exclude recoverable VAT, the Technology Demonstrator Programme (TDP) and other minor research items.
	MOD Research Expenditure covering years 2001–02 to 2003–04 (inclusive):
	
		£ million
		
			 Year Research expenditure 
		
		
			  
			  
			 2001–02 414 (actual) 
			 2002–03 418 (forecast) 
			 2003–04 421 (provisional)

Royal Naval Vessels

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the Royal naval vessels (a) scrapped, (b) sold, together with revenue received and (c) downgraded to reserve status in each of the past five years.

Adam Ingram: The major former Royal Naval vessels (named capital ships) sold by the Ministry of Defence's Disposal Services Agency (DSA) in the last five years are listed as follows:
	
		
			 Year Vessels sold as scrap 
		
		
			 2000–01 HMS Birmingham, HMS Beaver, RFA Olwen, RFA Olna 
			 2001–02 HMS Herald 
			   
			  Vessels sold (or otherwise transferred) on a Government-to-Government basis or commercially 
			 1998–99 HMS Soberton, HMS Egeria, HMY Britannia 
			 1999–2000 HMS Kellington 
			 2000–01 HMS Wilton, HMS Bicester, HMS Orkney 
			 2001–02 HMS Bulldog, HMS Berkeley, HMS Orwell 
			 2002–03 HMS Beagle, HMS London, HMS Coventry, HMSShetland, HMS Alderney, HMS Anglesey, HMSLindisfarne, HMS Guernsey 
		
	
	The net revenue to the MOD received from these sales is approximately £26.5 million.
	As well as these larger ships, numerous minor vessels have been sold commercially by the DSA or via the DSA's marketing agreements, such as tugs and marine support craft.
	Additionally, Canada has acquired the four ex-RN Upholder class submarines. The acquisition takes the form of an eight-year lease with an option for outright purchase. The first of the submarines was handed over to Canada on 6 October 2000 with the second submarine being handed over on 4 October 2001. The third submarine is to be handed over to Canada on 21 February 2003, with the fourth boat following later in 2003. Canada has exercised its option to purchase outright the first of the submarines, ex-HMS Unseen. The value of the lease to buy arrangement with Canada (undertaken by the MOD's Upholder Programme), which includes the submarines, training and initial spares, is some 610 million Canadian dollars.
	No Royal Naval vessels were put in reserve in any of the last five years.

Sea Harriers

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence to what extent Naval FA2 Sea Harriers are capable of operating in an air defence role in the climatic conditions normally found in the Gulf.

Adam Ingram: FA2 Sea Harriers of Joint Force Harrier are able to operate in the climatic conditions usually found in the Gulf. However, at hotter times of the year (between April and September) and dependent on the time of day of the operation, there are restrictions relating to the weight of ordnance the aircraft can bring back on vertical landing.

Strategic Tanker Aircraft

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to award a contract for the Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft programme; and what delays there have been to the originally forecast in-service date.

Adam Ingram: Final bids for this prospective PFI project are expected from two consortia on 30 April 2003. We will be doing all that we can to down select a preferred bidder by the end of this year and aim to sign a contract by the end of 2004, although the precise timing will depend on a range of factors including a period of bankers' due diligence. We have delayed the planned introduction of the PFI service by one year from 2007 to 2008, to allow time for the PFI negotiations to be completed.

Strategic Tanker Aircraft

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the MOD is expected to award a contract for the RAF's Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft; how many aircraft will be commissioned; how they will be deployed; what the projected costs are; when the aircraft will come into service; what the length of the contract is; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: Final bids for this prospective 27-year PFI contract are expected from two consortia on 30 April 2003. We will be doing all that we can to down select a preferred bidder by the end of this year and aim to sign a contract by the end of 2004, although the precise timing will depend on a range of factors including a period of bankers due diligence. The number of aircraft needed to meet our service-based requirement varies between the commercial solutions. However, a total fleet size of up to 20 aircraft is anticipated. Operational deployments will be undertaken under the Command and Control of the Royal Air Force. The project has an estimated through life value of around £13 billion and is scheduled to enter service in 2008.

Submarine Refits

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the S and T class submarines which (a) have completed, (b) are undergoing and (c) will in future undergo major upgrades together with the (i) completion and (ii) due completion dates in each case.

Adam Ingram: Upgrades to S and T class submarines are generally undertaken during docking periods of maintenance lasting six months or during major refit and refuel periods lasting three years. These are known as Upkeep Periods. All S and T Class submarines will undergo a number of Upkeep Periods throughout their lives, and those whose last Upkeep Period included an upgrade, and which are not currently undergoing an Upkeep Period are:
	
		
			 Submarine Completion date(62) 
		
		
			 HMS Splendid Spring 1998 
			 HMS Superb Summer 1998 
			 HMS Tireless Summer 1999 
			 HMS Triumph Winter 1999 
			 HMS Trafalgar Summer 2000 
			 HMS Turbulent Spring 2002 
			 HMS Sovereign Autumn 2002 
			 HMS Torbay Winter 2002 
		
	
	(62) Dates shown are when the submarine rejoined the fleet.
	Submarines currently undergoing an Upkeep Period and upgrade are HMS Sceptre and HMS Spartan, both of which are due to rejoin the fleet by summer 2003 and HMS Trenchant, which is due to rejoin the fleet by autumn 2003.
	The next planned refit and upgrade is that of HMS Talent which is expected to commence in spring 2003 and take approximately three years to complete including post refit trials and training. Details of Upkeep Periods beyond 2003 are classified, and I am withholding this information in accordance with Exemption 1 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information, which relates to defence, security and international relations.

Swiftsure Class Submarines

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which Swiftsure class submarines are non-operational; and for what reasons.

Adam Ingram: Three Swiftsure Class submarines are currently non-operational. HMS Sceptre and HMS Spartan are both in the final stages of refit. They are shortly planned to undergo sea trials before formally joining the fleet later this summer. HMS Superb is currently undergoing a period of inspection before starting a planned maintenance period. She is expected to rejoin the fleet in the first half of 2004.

Technology Readiness Assessments

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish the Technology Readiness Assessment of each of the candidate unmanned air vehicles for Watchkeeper; with which allied armed forces each of the candidate UAVs for Watchkeeper will be interoperable; which weapons are cleared for use from each of the candidate UAVs for Watchkeeper; how many of these have been used in combat; and if he will list the countries of origin of the candidate UAVs for Watchkeeper.

Adam Ingram: I refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence's written statement to the House on 7 February 2003, Official Report, columns 21–22WS.
	The Technology Readiness Assessment and the ability of the competitors to achieve a mature integration of the technology will feature as discriminators in choosing the final solutions. I am therefore withholding this information in accordance with Exemption 13 on the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information, which relates to third party's commercial confidences.
	There are many levels of potential UAV interoperability that require different degrees of compatibility of air vehicle, ground segment equipment and data links. To optimise UAV interoperability, the United Kingdom is contributing to the development, in association with our NATO allies, of standard UAV interfaces.
	The United Kingdom has not cleared any weapons for use with the candidate UAVs for Watchkeeper. Current requirements for Watchkeeper do not call for the solutions to be able to carry weapons. The Ministry of Defence is not aware of any weapons being cleared, by any other nation, for use with those UAVs now being considered by the Watchkeeper programme. Neither are we aware of them having been used in combat.
	Component parts of the candidate UAVs for Watchkeeper, including the ground segment, the on-board sensors and the air vehicles, have their design origins in a number of countries. The current candidate air vehicles are derived from designs with origins either in the US or Israel.

Trimaran Hulls

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent assessment his Department has made of the suitability of trimaran hulls for future types of warship.

Adam Ingram: A number of studies have been undertaken in recent years to examine the suitability of the trimaran hull form to meet future naval capability requirements. These studies have indicated significant potential advantages over more conventional hull forms for many naval roles. This led to the design and build of the 97 metre demonstrator RV Triton, which has recently completed an extensive and very successful trials programme. The data gathered will be shared with industry in support of possible trimaran solutions for future defence requirements.

Watchkeeper Competition

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to make an announcement on the winner of the Watchkeeper competition; and for what reasons there has been a delay in the down select decision.

Adam Ingram: I refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence's written statement on 7 February 2003, Official Report, columns 21–22WS. We expect to select a single successful contractor for the demonstration and manufacture phase by mid-2004. Watchkeeper is a complex programme, involving the integration of aerial vehicles with a ground control segment and wider connectivity to future communication systems such as Bowman. Therefore it was important to ensure that those companies selected for the remainder of the assessment phase can deliver a solution that will meet our operational requirements, at price we can afford and within the required timescales. After initial assessment of the bids, we sought clarification on a range of issues from each of the four bidders in December 2002. The decision and subsequent announcement was then made as quickly as possible following receipt of each bidder's response to these additional points of clarification.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Asylum Seekers

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers, who have been refused asylum status, have been removed from the country in (a) the last year for which figures are available and (b) the previous five years.

Beverley Hughes: Data on those people who have been removed after seeking asylum at some stage are given in the table.
	
		Removal of asylum seekers(63)
		
			  Principal applicants Dependants(64) 
		
		
			 1997 7,165 N/a 
			 1998 6,990 N/a 
			 1999 7,665 N/a 
			 2000 8,980 N/a 
			 2001 9,285 (64)1,495 
			 January to September 2002(65) 7,780 1,825 
		
	
	(63) Includes persons departing "voluntarily" after enforcement action has been initiated against them and persons leaving under the assisted voluntary return programmes run by the IOM.
	(64) Data for dependants removed only shows those removed from April 2001 onwards. Data on dependants was not collected prior to this date.
	(65) Provisional data subject to change.
	Note:
	Figures are rounded the nearest five.
	Information on the number asylum seekers removed in the period October to December 2002 is due to be published on 28 February 2003 on the Home Office website: www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/whatsnew1.html.

Asylum Seekers

Humfrey Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans his Department has to house asylum seekers in Pyrford Court, Pyrford Common Road, Woking, Surrey.

Beverley Hughes: Pyrford Court, Pyrford Common Road, Woking Surrey has not to date been considered by the National Asylum Support Service (NASS) for emergency accommodation, dispersal accommodation or as an induction centre.

Asylum Seekers

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people seeking asylum are registered as living at the Hinton Hotel, Fareham; and if the hotel provides accommodation to asylum seekers by arrangement with the National Asylum Support Service.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 13 February 2003
	The voluntary sector use the Hinton Hotel as emergency accommodation to house asylum seekers. However, Fareham is not a cluster area for the dispersal of asylum seekers.

Asylum Seekers

Julian Brazier: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the Government plans to renegotiate the UK's treaty obligations with regard to asylum seekers.

Beverley Hughes: Our obligations to asylum seekers are governed by the 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol and the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). We have no plans to withdraw from either convention unilaterally or to renegotiate our obligations.
	However, we will not be afraid to review relevant international obligations if current measures to tackle asylum are not effective.

Mental Illness (Prisoners)

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to reduce the number of people with mental illness in prison.

Hilary Benn: We are tackling excessive delays in arranging transfer to hospital for the most seriously ill. We are also working to improve the mental health services available to the majority of prisoners who are not so ill that they require hospital care.

Freight Search Technology

Mr. Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on progress made in the introduction of UK-provided freight search technology in ports in (a) Northern France and (b) Belgium.

Beverley Hughes: We have already deployed detection equipment at both Calais and Coquelles. There is now the capability to screen 100 per cent. of freight vehicles embarking from Calais. We will shortly be placing equipment at those key continental ports in France and Belgium, such as Dunkirk, Cherbourg, Ostend and Zeebrugge, vulnerable to the displacement of clandestine entry following the tightening of security at Calais.

Burglary (Sentencing)

Angela Watkinson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the deterrent effect of custodial sentences for household burglary.

Hilary Benn: Domestic burglary is a serious offence, as has recently been made clear by the Government and the courts. As a rule, it should attract a custodial sentence unless it is a first time offence and there are clear mitigating circumstances. Sentences act as a deterrent in a number of ways, including restricting opportunities to re-offend and by tackling the causes of an individual's offending behaviour.

Police Officers (Paperwork)

Peter Bradley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to reduce the paperwork of police officers.

John Denham: We have set up a steering group, co-chaired by the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) and the Home Office, to take forward the recommendations of Sir David O'Dowd's Bureaucracy Taskforce, whose report was published last September. Amongst the achievements so far, the necessary provisions to introduce street bail are in the criminal justice bill; the Metropolitan Police Service has made 306 forms obsolete and we hope that the Custody and Case Preparation applications will be rolled out to all forces by April 2006.

Policing (North Yorkshire)

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on policing in North Yorkshire.

John Denham: North Yorkshire Police had 1,417 officers on 31 March 2002, a record number. The force will receive over £70 million in general grant for 2003–04 and this will be supplemented by funding for a range of specific initiatives, including over £2 million from the Rural Policing Fund.

Police Forensic Services

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the future of police forensic services.

Bob Ainsworth: Forensic science is an increasingly valuable tool in the fight against crime and its successful exploitation is key to the delivery of police reform. The use of DNA, in particular, has revolutionised crime investigation and also provides an invaluable source of intelligence.
	As announced by my hon. Friend the Member for Southampton, Itchen (Mr. Denham) on 23 July 2002 the principal provider of forensic science services to the police, the Forensic Science Service, is currently the subject to an independent review which is looking at the delivery, performance and responsiveness of the Service and the ways in which we can maximise its contribution to the work of the police and through them to the wider criminal justice system.

Street Crime

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on recent measures to combat street crime.

John Denham: The Street Crime Initiative was launched in April 2002 in the 10 police force areas with the highest rates of recorded robbery during 2001–02. Its key aims are to increase the detection rate for street crime cases, increase the proportion of offenders charged and brought to justice, and speed up the process between arrest and sentence.
	This practical and partnership driven approach from the Government, police and other agencies had, by the end of September 2002, reduced the overall number of street crime offences by 16 per cent since its inception. At the end of last September: robbery, the more violent street crime offence, was down 25 per cent compared to the month immediately preceding the start of the initiative.

Barry Probation Office

John Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received about the proposed closure of Barry probation office; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: To date I have had no representations specific to the Barry Probation Office, though there have been local stakeholder discussions and I have received representations more generally on the property strategy of the South Wales Probation Board.
	The decision to close the main probation office in Barry, and relocate staff to Cardiff, was made by the local employer, the South Wales Probation Board. This decision was made in the wider context of improving effectiveness in dealing with offenders. The Board's strategy is to release resources to redirect into staff, particularly new staff to deliver successful Drug Treatment and Testing Orders (DTTOs) and to introduce the more effective "enhanced community punishment".
	Better targeting of public funds is an important aspect of improving public protection and reducing re-offending. The decision to double the planned number of DTTOs over the next two years underpins the success of their approach.

Council Tax Precept (Police Authorities)

David Heath: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average increase in council tax precept for police authorities in England and Wales for 2003–04 is, expressed as a percentage of 2002–03 levels.

Bob Ainsworth: This information is not yet available. Police Authorities have until 1 March to set their budgets and precept levels for 2003/04 and until 8 March to report this to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.
	I shall write to the hon. Member when the information is available.

Teenage Offenders

Stephen Ladyman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of offenders convicted in 2002 between the ages of 16 and 18 left school with no qualifications.

Hilary Benn: The information is not available in this precise form, but the Youth Justice Board's last general education audit, published in November 2001, showed that of juveniles who went into custody at least 71 per cent. had left school without any significant literacy or numeracy qualifications.

2 Marsham Street

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether a building research establishment environmental assessment method document has been prepared for the redevelopment of 2 Marsham Street.

Beverley Hughes: The Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) is being applied to the redevelopment of 2 Marsham Street. The contract requires progress to be regularly reported. The most recent report on progress of the project using BREEAM (98) criteria estimating project performance indicates that an excellent rating is likely to be achieved. The BREEAM certificate will be issued after building completion when the achieved rating will be confirmed.

Ashfield Young Offenders Institution

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  if he will make a statement on the recent report on Ashfield Young Offenders' Institution;
	(2)  what sanctions he has imposed on Recruit as a result of the Ashfield Report; and what plans he has to encourage them to reform their recruitment policies;
	(3)  what discussions he has had with Recruit regarding (a) their record at Ashfield and (b) other prison contracts they are responsible for.

Hilary Benn: The operating contractor of Ashfield young offender institution is Premier Prison Services which also operates Doncaster prison and young offender institution, Dovegate and Lowdham Grange prisons. I have not had discussions with Premier about any of these prisons, but I visited Ashfield on 29 August 2002 because of the concern that had been expressed about its performance. I am also regularly informed by the Prison Service about significant developments there and elsewhere in the Service.
	No sanctions have been imposed on Premier directly as a result of the report of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons. However the Prison Service has made deductions from the fee payable to Premier totalling £350,305 during the period November 2001 to October 2002 for failures to deliver acceptable levels of performance.
	Premier has recently introduced a new employment package for existing staff and new recruits in response to Prison Service concerns. The initial signs are encouraging in that the rate of staff resignations is falling.
	The Director General of the Prison Service made the following statement on 3 February in response to the report of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons on Ashfield young offender institution also published on 3 February:
	Ashfield has been struggling for some considerable time to provide an environment for young people which is safe and constructive. Premier's failures were so significant that in May 2002, some time before the Inspectorate's visit, I considered closing it and would have done so were it not for the population pressures we were facing. Instead, I took the unprecedented step of imposing a public sector governor and he made significant improvements. As Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons (HMCIP) report acknowledges, a new, more constructive and safer regime, some weeks in the design stage, was successfully launched shortly after the HMCIP visit.
	But these early improvements were not built upon as I had hoped. Since then I have personally intervened to help Premier recruit, in Vicky O'Dea, one of the most talented, committed and inspirational governors in the Prison Service. I have immense confidence in her and at last I am beginning to see signs of fundamental change for the better.
	Premier runs good prisons at Doncaster and Lowdham Grange and is fast improving Dovegate prison. However, the company is under no illusion that if the recent improvements at Ashfield are not built upon I will have to consider terminating the contract by inviting Premier's bankers to appoint another private sector company to run the prison. Failing that, I will have to consider bringing Ashfield into the public sector. For the time being, we will only be using half the places at Ashfield and paying Premier only part of its monthly fee.
	The introduction of the private sector into the running of prisons has brought immense benefits. My best prison is probably a private sector prison. But Ashfield, by some measure, is the worst. Sustained improvement is now vital if I am to be persuaded to leave the management of Ashfield in Premier's hands.

Capital Projects

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place the evaluations for the Capital Modernisation Fund projects relating to (a) crime reduction, (b) national police radio programme (PSRCP), (c) IT integration in criminal justice system, (d) DNA databases, (e) active communities prison pressures, (f) national strategy on police information systems, (g) government technical assistance centre, (h) video recording police interviews, (i) DNA database population, (j) video-links: modernising the court process, (k) post-release support hostel for prisoners after drug treatment, (l) electronic "chipping" of goods, (m) Project Lion, (n) firearms forensic database, (o) secure units for juvenile offenders, (p) security for small business, (q) detecting concealed people, (r) prison capacity and juvenile accommodation and (s) counter-terrorism in the Library; and if he will make a statement.

John Denham: Of the projects listed in the question, only one has so far been completed. An evaluation report on the court video-links project is due in June. Evaluation reports for the eight demonstration projects under "electronic chipping of goods" will be available at the end of November.

Communications Data

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the comments of the Surveillance Commissioner in his annual report (HC 68), on what obligations are on public authorities when seeking access to communications data; and if he will make a statement.

David Blunkett: I am not aware of any such comments in the Surveillance Commissioner's annual report (HC 68). If my hon. Friend has any further information I would be happy to consider it.

Computer Fraud

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases of computer (a) hacking, (b) fraud and (c) theft his Department recorded in 2001–02; and on how many occasions computer systems have been illegally accessed by computer hackers (i) within and (ii) outside his Department.

John Denham: Official records compiled under the government scheme for reporting Information Technology (IT) security incidents, the Unified Incident Reporting and Alert Scheme (UNIRAS), show the following figures.
	The number of incidents of computer hacking was 0 in 2001 and 0 in 2002.
	The number of incidents of computer fraud was 0 in 2001 and 0 in 2002.
	The number of incidents of computer theft recorded was 14 in 2001 and 14 in 2002.

Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  when he intends to reply to the letter to him dated 18 November from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr. A. Z. Majid;
	(2)  when he intends to reply to the letter to him dated 18 November 2002, from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr. A. Z. Majid.

David Blunkett: I wrote to my right hon. Friend on 20 February 2003.

Crime (Humberside)

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners underwent treatment for drugs dependence in (a) Haltemprice and Howden, (b) the East Riding of Yorkshire and (c) England and Wales in each of the past five years.

Hilary Benn: Data on how many prisoners underwent treatment for drug dependency are only available from 2001–02 onwards and are as follows.
	
		
			  Type of intervention 
			  CARATs Detoxification Rehabilitation 
		
		
			  Haltemprice and Howden 
			 2001–02 345 349 32 
			 2002–03(66) 358 94 58 
			 
			  East Riding county 
			 2001–02 390 349 72 
			 2002–03(66) 368 94 68 
			 
			  England and Wales 
			 2001–02 39,279 40,865 4,691 
			 2002–03(66) 37,251 36,651 3,099 
		
	
	(66) Denotes 1 April–31 December 2002 data available only.
	CARATs refers to counselling, assessment, referral, advice and throughcare services.

Crime (Humberside)

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many anti-social behaviour orders have been issued in the past 12 months in (a) Haltemprice and Howden, (b) the East Riding of Yorkshire and (c) the Humberside Police Authority area.

John Denham: The number of notifications received by the Home Office of Anti Social Behaviour Orders (ASBO)s issued, from 1 October 2001 up to 30 September 2002 (latest available), within the Humberside Magistrates Court Committee area, (which includes the East Riding of Yorkshire local authority, in which the Haltemprice and Howden constituency is located), are shown, by local authority, in the table.
	We are aware that the numbers of ASBOs made nationally have been consistently under reported in returns made by magistrates' courts and are considering how reporting can be improved.
	
		The number of ASBOs as notified to the Home Office, by Magistrates' Courts Committee and local authority area for Humberside, 1 October 2001—30 September 2002
		
			  Total issued 
		
		
			 Humberside MCC/Police Force Area 4 
			 of which local authority areas  
			 Kingston-upon-Hull CC 3 
			 North Lincolnshire Council 1

Departmental Budget

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the principal components of the changes in the budget of the Home Office from 2002–03 to 2005–06; and if he will make a statement.

David Blunkett: I refer the hon Member to chapter 10 of Her Majesty's Treasury publication "2002 Spending Review, New Public Spending Plans 2003—2006", Cm 5570, published in July 2002.

Departmental Consultations

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list consultations his Department has conducted since 1997; and when each consultation (a) opened and (b) closed.

Hilary Benn: The Home Department holds central records on issued consultations from 1997 for the Home Office, its non-departmental public bodies and agencies. Current consultation papers can be found on the website on http://www. homeoffice.gov.uk/consultations/consult papers.htm. Archived consultation papers can be found on http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/atoz/consuarchive.htm
	Determining all the details requested in the question for the archived records would require access to records at a disproportionate cost. However, the online archive does contain details of the consultation period for most of the consultation documents listed.
	In order to give the fullest reply I have listed the details available for 2001/2002 Home Office consultation exercises.
	
		
			 Title of consultation Start date of consultation period End date of consultation period 
		
		
			 Animal (Scientific Procedures Act 1 986) Review of the Ethical Review Process 11/01/2001 23/03/2001 
			 Animal Rights Extremism: Government strategy 28/03/2001 27/04/2001 
			 Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000 New laws for a successful multi racial Britain 22/02/2001 15/05/2001 
			 Proceeds of crime—consultation on draft legislation 05/03/2001 29/05/2001 
			 The Law on Extradition—a review 12/03/2001 08/06/2001 
			 Review of the Victim's Charter 27/02/2001 1 5/06/2001 
			 Guidance on the use of an Intermediary under Section 29 Of the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999 08/05/2001 29/06/2001 
			 Funding Community Groups 03/05/2001 23/07/2001 
			 Review of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 01/05/2001 31/07/2001 
			 Justification for the use of X/Gamma radiation scanners by the Immigration Service for detecting people seeking to enter the UK illegally in vehicles and/or freight, by clandestine means 17/07/2001 27/08/2001 
			 Extension of the Civil Penalty to rail freight shuttle wagons 18/07/2001 29/08/2001 
			 Review of Part 1 of the Sex Offenders Act 1997 30/07/2001 19/10/2001 
			 Making Punishment Work: Review of the Sentencing Framework for England and Wales 05/07/2001 31/10/2001 
			 Assessing Communications Data Draft Code of Practice 13/08/2001 02/11/2001 
			 Immigration and Nationality Directorate Review of Family Visitor Appeals 29/10/2001 14/12/2001 
			 Ratification of the EU Driving Disqualification Convention 25/09/2001 18/12/2001 
			 Fees for the removal and storage of vehicles, Under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 16/11/01 28/12/01 
			 Improving the planning of young people substance misuse services 01/11/01 31/12/01 
			 Policing a New Century: a Blueprint for reform White Paper Consultation 05/12/01 21/01/02 
			 Revising the definition of categories of deaths of members of the public during or following police contact 14/12/2001 31/01/2002 
			 Police and Criminal Evidence Act—(PACE Code A) 11/03/2002 19/02/2002 
			 The Motor Salvage Operators Regulations 2002. (Vehicles (Crime) Act 2001) 04/01/2002 01/03/2002 
			 Secure Borders, Safe Haven White Paper Consultation 07/02/2002 21/03/2002 
			 Extension of controlled drugs licensing 11/02/2002 01/05/2002 
			 Proposed changes to the Misuse of Drugs legislation 04/03/2002 1 7/05/2002 
			 Review of Crime Reduction Training 04/03/2002 27/05/2002 
			 Review on Work Permit Policy on Recruitment and Employment Agencies and Contractors 18/03/2002 14/06/2002 
			 Charging for the consideration of Work Permit applications in Great Britain 15/04/2002 05/07/2002 
			 Merger of CDRPs and DATs 03/05/02 26/07/02 
			 Police and Criminal Evidence Act Consultation on Code of Practice (Code B-E) 12/06/02 16/08/02 
			 Working Holidaymaker Scheme 29/05/02 23/08/02 
			 Review of Seasonal Agricultural Workers' Scheme 03/06/02 23/08/02 
			 Breaking the Circle: a report of the review of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 17/07/02 1 3/09/02 
			 Criminal Justice System White Paper: Justice for All (Joint exercise with other Departments) 1 7/07/02 09/10/02 
			 Criminal Justice White Paper Proposals on jury exemptions and excusals (Partial) Regulatory Impact Assessment 25/09/02 24/10/02 
			 Connecting Communities Race Equality Grant programme future funding 31/07/02 25/10/02 
			 Protocol to the Convention on mutual assistance in criminal matters between member states of the EU 09/08/02 01/11/02 
			 Proceeds of Crime Act Section 292 -Code of practice for search powers regarding recovery of criminal proceeds 23/08/02 15/11/02 
			 Proceeds of Crime Act—Part 7 Section 339 Money Laundering 23/08/02 15/11/02 
			 Fundamental review of death certification and the Coroner services in England Wales and Northern Ireland 09/08/02 22/11/02 
			 Code of Practice issued under Section 377 of the Proceeds of Crime Bill 14/10/02 03/01/03 
			 Entitlement Cards and Identity Fraud 03/07/02 31/01/03 
			 Implementation of juxtaposed controls at Calais 20/11/02 07/02/03 
			 Supply of specific items of drugs paraphernalia to drug users 18/11/02 14/02/03

Domestic Violence

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his Department has separate strategies for tackling domestic violence against (a) men and (b) women; and if he will make a statement.

John Denham: The Government's policies are designed to ensure thatvictims of domestic violence receive help and support irrespective of gender, whilst recognising that this is a crime which predominantly affects women. Women are more likely to experience such violence over a lifetime, more likely to experience repeat victimisation, more likely to be injured and seek medical help, and more likely to experience frightening threats. Ministers have therefore emphasised that all forms of domestic violence are unacceptable and must be recognised and treated seriously, but have retained the policy focus on domestic violence against women, and children affected by domestic violence. This focus for the immediate future was agreed by the Ministerial group on Domestic Violence.

Domestic Violence

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what statistics his Department has collated on the extent of domestic violence against (a) men and (b) women; and if he will make a statement.

John Denham: Domestic violence is not separately identified in recorded crime statistics collected by the Home Office.
	The British Crime Survey (BCS) provides information on the number of incidents of domestic violence in England and Wales. It estimated that there were 122,000 incidents of domestic violence against men and 514,000 incidents against women in interviews in 2001/2.
	The BCS figures are derived from a sample and so are subject to sampling error. Moreover, the BCS is carried out by face-to-face interviews and some respondents may be unwilling to reveal experience of domestic violence to interviewers. The 1996 BCS included a self-completion component on domestic violence to encourage disclosure. Results were published in Home Office Research Study No. 191—copies are available in the Library. This more confidential approach to measurement revealed that the proportion of women that were victims of domestic assault in the last year was over three times higher than in the main BCS. It found that six per cent of women and five per cent of men had been threatened or assaulted by a current or former partner in the last year.

Domestic Violence

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent research his Department has commissioned on domestic violence suffered by (a) men and (b) women; and if he will make a statement.

John Denham: Research commissioned by the Home Office is listed. The number of men included in samples is usually too small for any meaningful analysis to be conducted.
	Findings from the British Crime Survey Inter-Personal Violence Module. A specialist self-completion module was included on the national British Crime Survey in 2001 to measure the prevalence and extent of domestic violence, rape and sexual assault and stalking. The questions were addressed to both men and women. The findings from this survey will be reported in the summer of 2003.
	Preventing Repeated Domestic Violence: A Demonstration Project on Merseyside, Police Research Group Crime Prevention Series, Paper 49, 1994 by Sam Lloyd, Graham Farrell and Ken Pease: an evaluation of a police led intervention to reduce repeated calls to the police.
	Preventing Domestic Violence to Women, Police Research Group, Crime Prevention Unit Series, Paper 48, 1994 by Rebecca Morley and Audrey Mullender: a literature review on how to deal effectively, with incidents of Domestic Violence.
	Policing Domestic Violence: Effective Organisational Structures, Police Research Series Paper TOO, 1998 by Joyce Plotnikoff and Richard Woolfson.
	Domestic Violence: Findings from a new British Crime Survey self completion questionnaire. Home Office Research Study 191, 1999 by Catriona Mirrlees-Black. This provides data from the 1996 Domestic Violence self completion module.
	Domestic Violence Matters: an evaluation of a development project. Home Office Research Study, 193, 1999 by Liz Kelly: an evaluation of an intervention by two civilian crisis workers based in a police station to look at effective ways of providing crisis support and advice to victims of Domestic Violence who have reported incidents to the police.
	Arresting Evidence: Domestic Violence and Repeat Victimisation. Police Research Series, Paper 104, 1999 by Jalna Hanmer, Sue Griffiths and David Jerwood: an evaluation of a police-led intervention to explore the effectiveness of the police using repeat victimisation as a way of effectively prioritising cases and allocating resources.
	Reducing Domestic Violence: What Works? Briefing Notes: Policing and Reducing Crime Unit, Crime Reduction Research Series, 2000: a series of literature reviews on which approaches and interventions are effective in reducing incidents of domestic violence in a number of different settings.
	Crime Reduction Programme: Reducing Violence against Women Initiative (VAWI) is part of the national evidence-led Crime Reduction Programme which funds and independently evaluates multi-agency interventions to find out which approaches and policies are effective in reducing crime. Some 34 victim focused projects were funded as part of the Violence Against Women Initiative (25 specifically addressing domestic Violence) in July 2000, and these projects are still being evaluated to assess their impact and cost. Findings are due to be reported later this year.

Domestic Violence

Angela Watkinson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the timetable is for the Green Paper on domestic violence.

John Denham: holding answer 13 February 2003
	The consultation paper, setting out proposals to prevent domestic violence, deal with perpetrators and provide increased support to victims, will be published by Summer 2003. It will aim to generate a comprehensive response from the public, voluntary sector and others, to ensure the widest possible agreement on what needs to be done to prevent and deal with domestic violence.

Domestic Violence (Immigrants)

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the outcome of discussions between his Department, the Department for Work and Pensions and the Cabinet Office to address the issue of support for victims of domestic violence who are subject to immigration control.

John Denham: We have widened the types of evidence acceptable to enable a victim of domestic violence to benefit from the concession under which a person in this position can apply for indefinite leave to remain. If evidence in the form of a court order or police caution is not available, we will accept more than one form of evidence from the following list:
	a medical report from a hospital doctor confirming that the applicant has injuries consistent with being the victim of domestic violence;
	a letter from a family practitioner who has examined the applicant and is satisfied that the applicant has injuries consistent with being the victim of domestic violence;
	an undertaking given to a court that the perpetrator of the violence will not approach the applicant who is the victim of the violence;
	a police report confirming attendance at the home of the applicant as a result of a domestic violence incident;
	a letter from a social services department confirming its involvement in connection with domestic violence; and
	a letter of support or report from a women's refuge.
	The domestic violence concession was incorporated into the Immigration Rules in November 2002. This will ensure that domestic violence cases attract a right of appeal and that the facts of the case leading to the decision can be considered by the Appellate Authorities.
	The Government is continuing to consider the issue of access to public funds.

E-mail Addresses

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department by what e-mail address members of the public may contact (a) him and (b) each of the Ministers in his Department; and for each e-mail address if he will state (i) the date it became active and (ii) the number of e-mails received in each month since activation

David Blunkett: The address used for all contact by e-mail to the Home Office is public.enquiries@ homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk, and has been in use since 1999. No separate addresses for individual ministers are maintained. Details of the number of emails received each month are not available, but rough estimates have been kept on an annual basis since 1999 as follows:
	
		
			  
		
		
			 1999 17,500 
			 2000 37,000 
			 2001 51,600 
			 2002 86,000 
		
	
	These figures do not however include the large volumes of campaign emails received regularly by the Home Office. Forensic
	A new Correspondence Tracking System is being introduced currently which will more accurately track and monitor public and ministerial correspondence. From June 2003 the system will also be able to track and monitor public emails.

Forensic Computing Units

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what budget was allocated for forensic computing units for each of the last three years; and what the proposed budgets are for each of the next three years;
	(2)  how many whole-time equivalent staff were working in the field of forensic computing in each constabulary, in each of the last three years.

John Denham: The information sought by the hon. Member is not held centrally.
	It is the responsibility of chief officers and police authorities to decide on the number of staff and proportion of their funding which they allocate to the operation of forensic computing units.
	In 2001/02 the Home Office provided £25 million over three years, over and above general police funding, for the purpose of fighting hi-tech crime; £10 million of which is being used to enhance the powers of local police forces to investigate criminal activity online and to examine computer data forensically. In terms of staffing this sum to date has resulted in the training of a further 54 network investigators and seven forensic investigators across forces.

Forensic Pathology

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons in each year since its introduction have sat the examination for a Diploma of Forensic Pathology; how many have passed; if he will place in the Library a copy of the syllabus and learning structure for teaching the Diploma; what qualifications are required to teach this Diploma; and how many persons are qualified.

John Denham: The Diploma in Forensic Pathology run by the Royal College of Pathologists commenced in 1995, for candidates who are in full-time forensic practice, and hold Membership of the Royal College of Pathologists.
	The structure of the examination consists of two parts. The regulations and syllabus relating to the Diploma in Forensic Pathology, detail the examination structure and requirements for admission; copies of which will be placed in the Library.
	There have been 10 persons awarded the diploma since its inception but a breakdown by year is not available.
	Examiners are senior forensic pathologists appointed by the Royal College of Pathologists.

Immigration Offences

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) men and (b) women were detained in prisons in England and Wales for immigration offences on 1 February; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: Data on the number of people held in prisons for offences under the Immigration Act are not available.
	The latest available data show that at 28 September 2002 there were 220 people held solely under Immigration Act powers in Prison Service establishments in the United Kingdom, information on the reasons for detention would only be available by examination of individual casefiles at disproportionate cost.
	Data for the period October to December 2002 are due to be published on 28 February 2002 on the Home Office website: www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/whatsnew1 .html

Kent Policing Model

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 5 February, Official Report, column 329W, on Kent Policing Model, what assessment he has made of the function of non-intelligence focused police patrol within the Kent Policing Model.

John Denham: The deployment of patrol officers within Kent is an operational matter for the chief constable. A framework of inspections and performance measurement is in place for Kent, as it is for all other police forces.

Medical Jurisprudence

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons in each year since its introduction have sat the examination for a Diploma of Medical Jurisprudence; how many have passed; if he will place in the Library a copy of the syllabus and learning structure for teaching this diploma; what qualifications are required to teach this diploma; and how many persons are qualified.

John Denham: The first Diploma in Medical Jurisprudence was awarded in 1962 by the Society of Apothecaries of London. The examination; which consists of two parts, was designed for registered medical and dental practitioners who have had experience of medico-legal practice.
	The regulations and syllabus relating to the Diploma in Medical Jurisprudence, detail the examination structure and requirements for admission; copies of which will be placed in the Library.
	The total number of diplomas awarded to date are 238. A breakdown of diplomas awarded, is available for the last 10 years and is detailed in the table:
	
		
			  Candidates 
			 Year In the UK Abroad Total 
		
		
			 1992 6 8 14 
			 1993 4 7 11 
			 1994 5 3 8 
			 1995 1 3 4 
			 1996 3 9 12 
			 1997 0 2 2 
			 1998 2 1 3 
			 1999 2 3 5 
			 2000 3 4 7 
			 2001 2 2 4 
			 2002 1 1 2 
		
	
	The Diploma is a self-learning course and there are no specific requirements to be an examiner. They are nominated by the British Association for Forensic Medicine (BAFM).

MI5 (Right of Access)

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many subject access requests have been made to MI5 since the right of access was afforded; and how many have been granted.

David Blunkett: holding answer 13 February 2003
	The Security Service has received 127 Subject Access requests under the provisions of the Data Protection Act 1998. The Security Service has disclosed personal data in 25 cases.

Nadhmia Auchi

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what response he has given to the application for the extradition to France of Nadhmia Auchi.

Bob Ainsworth: For good and obvious reasons, it is our policy and practice not to comment, ahead of any arrest, on whether an extradition request for a particular individual has been received or is under consideration.

Neighbourhood Wardens

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Neighbourhood Wardens Initiative schemes have been established in England and Wales since 2000; where such schemes have been in operation; and how many people are employed as neighbourhood wardens.

Barbara Roche: I have been asked to reply.
	Since 2000, 207 Neighbourhood Warden schemes have become active. We are currently bringing forward a further 38 schemes. Employment figures for these schemes stand at a total of 1,464 wardens.
	There are 245 wardens schemes distributed across the following regions:
	
		
			  
		
		
			 East of England 17 
			 East Midlands 12 
			 North-West 49 
			 London 43 
			 West Midlands 29 
			 Yorkshire and Humber 24 
			 South West 16 
			 South East 29 
			 North East 21 
			 Wales 5

Neighbourhood Wardens

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research has been undertaken to assess whether Neighbourhood Warden Initiative schemes (a) have reduced crime, (b) have provided public reassurance and (c) are an effective deterrent to anti-social behaviour; and if he will make a statement.

Barbara Roche: I have been asked to reply.
	The research of the Neighbourhood Warden schemes funded by my department began in 2001 and involves a series of national and local quantitative surveys as well as in-depth qualitative investigations into case study areas. The evaluation of Neighbourhood Wardens is ongoing. Evaluation of the Street Warden programme, is in its early stages and interim reports are not yet available.
	Copies of the 'Neighbourhood Wardens Scheme Evaluation Case Studies—Preliminary Report' and the 'Implications Paper' have been placed in the library of the House. The indications from these and other interim reports are that warden schemes are contributing to a reduction in levels of crime, provide public reassurance and are effective in deterring anti-social behaviour.

Non-Custodial Sentences

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent research his Department has undertaken into public opinion on community based alternatives to prison.

Hilary Benn: A public perception survey of the Probation Service was commissioned by the National Probation Directorate from Mori Social Research Institute. This primarily related to those community sentences which are the responsibility of the Probation Service. It reported on public awareness and the perceived effectiveness of the service in its various roles. The results and report, "Perceptions of the National Probation Service", were circulated within the National Probation Service in September 2002. It is available to download from the probation pages of the Home Office website, and I will arrange for a copy to be placed in the Library.

Online Sales/Purchases

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what (a) products, (b) goods and (c) services were (i) bought and (ii) sold online by his Department in each of the last five years.

Beverley Hughes: The Home Department has not sold any goods or services on line in the past five years. The department has however purchased low value items on line during 2002 which are as follows:
	
		
			 Goods Services 
		
		
			 Stationery and office consumables Training courses 
			 IT consumables Temporary staff 
			 Publications

Police Numbers (Nottinghamshire)

Graham Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers there were in the Nottinghamshire Constabulary in each year since 1997; and how many there will be in each year for which projections are available.

John Denham: Information on police strength for Nottinghamshire Police is set out in the table.
	
		
			 Year (as at 31 March) Police Officer Numbers Civilian Support Staff Numbers 
		
		
			 1997 2,323 1,003 
			 1998 2,323 987 
			 1999 2,225 1,039 
			 2000 2,204 1,024 
			 2001 2,212 1,039 
			 2002 2,330 1,087 
		
	
	Under the Crime Fighting Fund (CFF) recruitment initiative Nottinghamshire Police have been allocated an additional 157 recruits over and above the force's previous recruitment plans for the three years to March 2003. Funding for these officers will continue in 2003–04. The CFF will continue in 2003/04 and we will fund 75 per cent of the cost of new recruits through CFF rather than 100 per cent as in the past three years. Nottinghamshire Police Authority has been allocated £96,000 which on the basis of 75 per cent funding should be sufficient for the force to recruit a further 17 police officers through this fund.
	Apart from ring-fenced provision for a particular purpose, such as the Crime Fighting Fund, decisions about the police budget and the allocation of resources, including numbers of officers, are matters for the Nottinghamshire Police Authority and the Chief Constable (Stephen Green QPM). It is therefore not possible to provide estimates of Nottinghamshire's police strength in future years.

Police Officers (Sickness)

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average number of working days lost through sickness among police officers in England was in 2002, broken down by (a) constabulary, (b) rank and (c) gender.

John Denham: The average number of days lost through sickness absence for police officers in England and Wales for the year 2001–02, (the latest figures that are available) is 11.5. The national average for male and female officers is 11 days and 15 days respectively. Broken down by constabulary, the average number of days lost through sickness absence per officer are:
	
		
			 Force Average days per officer Per Male Officer Per Female Officer 
		
		
			 Avon and Somerset 13.0 13 14 
			 Bedfordshire 9.5 8 15 
			 Cambridgeshire 12.0 10 15 
			 Cheshire 13.8 13 16 
			 City of London 12.1 10 20 
			 Cleveland 12.2 11 19 
			 Cumbria 13.4 13 15 
			 Derbyshire 11.5 11 15 
			 Devon and Cornwall 10.4 9 14 
			 Dorset 10.0 9 17 
			 
			 Durham 11.1 10 16 
			 Dyfed-Powys 10.5 10 10 
			 Essex 11.2 11 15 
			 Gloucestershire 10.7 10 14 
			 Greater Manchester 12.7 N/A N/A 
			 Gwent 15.6 14 21 
			 Hampshire 11.1 10 14 
			 Hertfordshire 11.9 11 16 
			 Humberside 8.6 8 9 
			 Kent 11.1 10 17 
			 Lancashire 11.6 11 15 
			 Leicestershire 12.2 11 20 
			 Lincolnshire 12.0 11 16 
			 Merseyside 12.6 12 20 
			 Metropolitan Police 10.4 10 15 
			 Norfolk 12.2 12 15 
			 Northamptonshire 8.5 8 10 
			 Northumbria 9.0 9 11 
			 North Wales 10.5 10 11 
			 North Yorkshire 9.9 10 10 
			 Nottinghamshire 11.4 11 15 
			 South Wales 12.7 12 15 
			 South Yorkshire 11.6 11 12 
			 Staffordshire 14.3 13 20 
			 Suffolk 9.0 8 13 
			 Surrey 10.9 10 15 
			 Sussex 11.1 11 14 
			 Thames Valley 11.4 10 17 
			 Warwickshire 10.9 10 16 
			 West Mercia 13.2 12 18 
			 West Midlands 13.1 12 16 
			 West Yorkshire 13.4 13 17 
			 Wiltshire 13.2 12 17 
		
	
	(Figures published in the Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) Annual Report published on 19 December 2002)
	One of the aims of the Strategy for a Healthy Police Service, published in October 2002, is to identify and address the disparity in levels of sickness absence between different groups within the police service.
	Sickness absence data are not collected by rank.

Police Recruits(Compulsory Freemasonry Declaration)

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made on inserting compulsory disclosure of membership of the Freemasons in the contracts of new police recruits.

John Denham: A scheme of voluntary registration was introduced in 1999. We continue to review its effectiveness—there are no current proposals for compulsory disclosure.

Prison Sniffer Dogs

Archie Norman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the adequacy of provision in prisons of sniffer dogs for the purpose of preventing drug use.

Hilary Benn: The availability of specialist drug dogs within the Prison Service has increased significantly following investment from the Comprehensive Spending Review 1997 and Spending Review 2000. All prisons now have access to both active and passive drug dogs. There are currently 261 active drug dogs and 212 passive drug dogs deployed across the Prison Service.

Prisoners (Escort Services)

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps are being taken to reduce (a) delays and (b) late arrivals of prisoners from court; what steps are being taken to improve the information received by prisons from escort contractors; and what assessment has been made of potential benefits of placing the responsibility for escort services on the Prison Service.

Hilary Benn: The delivery of prisoners to court on time has been affected by the recent increase in the prison population. The Prison Service is trying in a number of ways to improve performance and service delivery.
	A recent pilot exercise at Pentonville prison streamlined the escort contractor's work so as to prioritise the delivery of prisoners to court, according to the needs and timings of court business; this resulted in an 11 per cent. improvement in performance in London. The pilot may be extended across the wider Prison Service estate, subject to further findings.
	The number of courts linked to the video link system is also increasing, with 123 magistrates' courts and one crown court currently using the service. A further 30 crown courts are to receive video link equipment by the end of August 2003, with funding currently being sought for a further 50 crown courts to be linked to the system. This use of the video links system between courts and prisons, which results in a decrease in the number of prisoners having to attend court in person, should help to release contractors' resources and so reduce delays in the movement of prisoners.
	The Prison Service is also reviewing the internal working practices of some of those prisons that serve the courts to see if a closer correlation between those arrangements and court business hours could be achieved.
	The contracting out of prisoner escort arrangements has offered better value for money, a reduction in the number of escapes and has freed up prison officers to concentrate on their core duties. A recent Prison Service review confirmed that the service should continue to be contracted out. It also concluded that existing contracts, which are planned to become operational in 2004, should be replaced with more flexible ones to allow the Prison Service to respond more quickly to future business needs. The Prison Service is developing this approach and, together with the relevant agencies in the criminal justice system, is considering how all involved can work together to improve the service.

Prisoners (Foreign Nationals)

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) men and (b) women detained in prisons in England and Wales on 1 February were foreign nationals who had completed their prison sentence and were awaiting deportation from the United Kingdom.

Beverley Hughes: This information is not held centrally and would be available only at disproportionate cost.

Prisons Minister

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which prisons the Prisons Minister has visited since his appointment.

Hilary Benn: The establishments I have visited since my appointment as Parliamentary Under Secretary for Community and Custodial Provision on 29 May 2002 are given in the table. Further visits will take place in due course.
	
		
			  Date 
		
		
			 Leeds 14 June 2002 
			 Winchester 4 July 2002 
			 Wormwood Scrubs 9 July 2002 
			 Belmarsh 10 July 2002 
			 Askham Grange 15 July 2002 
			 Brixton 25 July 2002 
			 Portland 27 August 2002 
			 Weare 27 August 2002 
			 Lewes 28 August 2002 
			 Ashfiefd 29 August 2002 
			 East Sutton Park 3 September 2002 
			 Wayland 17 September 2002 
			 Reading 20 September 2002 
			 Feltham 23 September 2002 
			 Holloway 23 September 2002 
			 Wetherby 7 October 2002 
			 Lincoln 24 October 2002 
			 New Hall 15 November 2002 
			 Feltham 26 November 2002 
			 Leeds 24 January 2003 
			 Wandsworth 29 January 2003

Retail Industry Crime

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his Answer of 14 January, Official Report, column 585W, on retail industry crime, how many small retail businesses in (a) Lancashire and (b) the North West of England have (i) applied for and (ii) received a grant from the Government to improve security on their property; and when the new survey of crime affecting retail and manufacturing industry will be published.

John Denham: Funding under the Small Retailers in Deprived Areas Initiative is allocated directly to regional Crime Reduction Directors, whose responsibility it is to distribute the money to Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships (CDRPs) covering the lO per cent most deprived wards in the region. Proposals invited from CDRPs have to meet the scheme's strict criteria, and are worked up in close conjunction with the regional Crime Reduction Director, who submits them to me for approval. All proposals submitted to me in the first two years of the initiative have been approved without exception.
	In the first year of the initiative (2001–02), over 80 small businesses in Lancashire benefited from funding of £73,234. In 2002–03, over 111 retailers and small businesses in the county stand to benefit from funding of £251,453.
	For the North West of England, over 420 small businesses benefited from the 2001–02 allocation of £470,670, and over 1140 retailers and small businesses stand to benefit from the 2002–03 allocation of £942,209.
	We expect the results of the new survey of crime affecting retail and manufacturing business, which my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary announced in April last year, to be published in the summer.

Retail Industry Crime

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the answer of 14 January, Official Report, column 585W, on retail industry crime, if the report on the consultation on the means of creating and maintaining effective partnerships to reduce opportunities for crime against business will be (a) published online and (b) placed in the Library.

John Denham: The consultation period on the business crime consultation document closes on 28 February 2003. We hope to publish a report on the outcome in the summer. The report will be published on the Home Office website and a copy will be placed in the Library.

Retail Industry Crime

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the answer of 14 January, Official Report, column 585W, on retail industry crime, what the average size is of a grant made available from the Government to businesses for improving the security of small retail businesses.

John Denham: In the first year (2001–02) of the Small Retailers in Deprived Areas Initiative, the average grant made available was £1,074 per small retailer. In the second year (2002–03), this has increased to £1,272 per individual business.

Sickness Absence

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the rate of staff (a) absenteeism and (b) sickness was in his Department and each of its agencies and non-departmental public bodies in each year from 1990–91 to 2002–03; what the target set is for his Department; and if he will make a statement.

David Blunkett: Information on absenteeism is not collected centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
	Information on Sickness Absence can be found in the annual report "analysis of sickness Absence in the Civil Service" published by the Cabinet Office. The average number of lost working days owing to sickness is as follows:
	
		
			  
		
		
			 1997 11.4 
			 1998 10.4 
			 1999 11.1 
			 2000 11.2 
			 2001 8.0* 
		
	
	* This figure is currently being re-assessed and any corrections to the published figure for 2001 will be included in the 2002 report.
	Figures for 1991–1996 are not available and figures for 2002 will be announced in due course.
	The Home Office have introduced new guidelines, policies and procedures with a view to meeting its target to reducing sickness absence, published in its Service Delivery Agreements for April 2001 to March 2004.

Sickness Absence

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many days were lost due to sickness absence in the Department in 2002.

David Blunkett: Information on Sickness Absence can be found in the annual report "Analysis of Sickness Absence in the Civil Service" published by the Cabinet Office. The most recent report for the calendar year 2001 was announced by Ministerial Statement on 19 December 2002 and copies placed in the Library. The figures for 2002 will be announced in due course.

Sickness Absence

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many working days have been lost due to illness in his Department in (a) 2002 and (b) each of the preceding five years.

David Blunkett: Information on Sickness Absence can be found in the annual report "Analysis of Sickness Absence in the Civil Service" published by the Cabinet Office. The average number of working days lost owing to sickness is as follows:
	
		
			  
		
		
			 1997 11.4 
			 1998 10.4 
			 1999 11.1 
			 2000 11.2 
			 2001 8.0* 
		
	
	The figures for 2002 are not yet available and will be announced in due course.
	* This figure is currently being reassessed and any correction to the published figure for 2001 will be included in the 2002 Report.

Special Advisers and Press Officers

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) special advisers and (b) press officers have been employed by his Department in each year from 1994–95 to 2002–03; and at what cost in each year.

David Blunkett: With regards to Special Advisers I refer the hon. Member to the answer provided by my hon. Friend the Member for Paisley, South (Mr. Alexander) on 31 January 2003, Official Report, column 1056W. Press officer numbers are listed in the following table:
	
		
			 Year Number of press officers Cost £ thousand 
		
		
			 1996–97 16 369,000 
			 1997–98 13 332,000 
			 1998–99 13 329,000 
			 1999–2000 16 345,000 
			 2000–01 31 863,000 
			 2001–02* 35 1 million 
			 2002–03 37  
		
	
	Staff numbers for the press office increased when a Newsdesk was established in 2000. This was one of the recommendations from the independent external consultants who carried out a review of the structure and operation of the press office in 1999. One of the benefits of has been that media calls to the press office are being answered within four rings 90 per cent of the time. Previously there were occasions when up to 40 per cent of media calls were lost.
	Information prior to 1996/97 was not held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
	* The Prison Service press office joined the Home Office in May 2001

Terrorist Attacks

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on (a) the stock of equipment and (b) its whereabouts to deal with an NBC terrorist attack in (i) London and (ii) East Sussex; and what plans he has to increase this stock.

David Blunkett: The Government are taking precautions to ensure that emergency services, local authorities and Government Departments and agencies are prepared to respond to a Chemical, Biological, Radiological or Nuclear (CBRN) incident and that the emergency services have the right equipment and stocks.
	The National Health Service (NHS) has increased its preparedness and nationally has 360 mobile decontamination units sent to key points around the country for use by Ambulance Service and hospital Accident and Emergency Departments. 7,250 personal protection suits have been distributed to key health workers. 2,350 police officers have been trained and equipped to deal with CBRN incidents and this programme is continuing.
	It has been agreed that fire fighters will work alongside ambulance services by decontaminating people at a CBRN incident and £56 million has been allocated by the Government to buy equipment to do this in 2003.
	Medical countermeasures are also stockpiled in strategic locations.
	I cannot give details of the location of this equipment and stocks, as this information would self-evidently be of use to terrorists.

Violent Crime

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his estimate is of the proportion of violent crimes in each of the last five years where (a) alcohol and (b) illegal drug use were involved.

John Denham: Police-recorded crime statistics can not provide information on the proportion of violent crime where alcohol and/or illegal drug use are involved. The British Crime Survey (BCS) reports on the victim's perception of offenders in violent incidents. Violent crime measured by the BCS can be classified into four sub-groups: domestic, mugging, stranger and acquaintance violence. The following tables show the proportion of violent incidents in which victims felt that the offender/s was under the influence of drink or drugs, firstly for all violence reported to the survey and then separately for the breakdown by individual types of violence. It should be noted that sweeps of the BCS were not conducted in 1997 or 1999.
	
		Table 1. Whether offender/s under the influence of drink or drugs in violent incidents (1998 BCS, 2000 BCS, 2001–02 BCS interviews) -- All violence
		
			  1998 2000 2001–02 BCS 
			  BCS BCS Interviews  
			 Under influenceof drink (percentage) (percentage) (percentage) 
		
		
			 Yes 42 40 47 
			 No 48 50 44 
			 Don't know 10 9 9 
			 Unweighted 942 1,052 1,341 
			 Under influenceof drugs  (percentage) (percentage) (percentage) 
			 Yes 18 18 21 
			 No 54 55 56 
			 Don't know 29 27 23 
			 Unweighted 942 7,052 1,341 
		
	
	Notes:
	(67) Source 1998 BCS, 2000 BCS, and 2001–02 BCS interviews.
	(68) Not asked if offender identified as under school age. In 1998 there was one incident of acquaintance violence where the offender was said to be under school age
	(69) Figures may differ from those previously published due to a revision in the weighting process.
	
		Table 2. Whether offender/s under the influence of drink or drugs by typology of violence (1998 BCS, 2000 BCS, 2001–02 BCS interviews)
		
			  Domestic Mugging Stranger Acquaintance 
			  1998 2000 2001–02 1998 2000 2001–02 1998 2000 2001–02 1998 2000 2001-02 
		
		
			 Under influence of drink (percentage) (percentage) (percentage) (percentage) 
			 Yes 33 43 45 15 17 19 59 53 58 45 37 51 
			 No 60 55 49 53 70 62 30 34 31 50 53 43 
			 Don't 7 2 5 32 13 18 11 13 10 4 10 6 
			 know 
			 Unweighted 195 229 243 150 725 279 250 308 453 347 390 426 
			 Under influence of drugs (percentage) (percentage) (percentage) (percentage) 
			 Yes 10 13 17 15 20 14 22 16 20 19 22 27 
			 No 81 80 74 31 45 55 35 38 42 57 56 58 
			 Don't 9 7 9 53 35 31 43 46 38 24 22 15 
			 know 
			 Unweighted 195 229 243 150 125 279 250 308 453 347 390 426 
			 Notes: 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Source 1998 BCS, 2000 BCS, and 2001–02 BCS interviews.
	2. Not asked if offender identified as under school age. In 1998 there was one incident of acquaintance violence where the offender was said to be under school age.
	3. Results for mugging should be treated with caution due to the small number of incidents.
	4. Figures may differ from those previously published due to a revision in the weighting process.

West Yorkshire Police

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the percentage change was in West Yorkshire Police Authority's (a) aggregate budgets, (b) expenditure on uniformed police, (c) expenditure on other police officers and (d) other expenditure between 1997 and 2002.

John Denham: The information is set out in the table.
	
		
			  1996–97 2001–02 Change 
			  £ million £ million % 
		
		
			 Police pay(70) 150.3 165.7 10.2 
			 Civilian pay 33.3 48.1 44.4 
			 Other expenditure(71)(net) 80.7 109.1 35.2 
			 Total net expenditure 264.3 322.9 22.2 
			 Less use of reserves/balances (4.3) (8.8) 104.7 
			 Net budget requirement 260.0 314.1 20.8 
		
	
	Sources:Treasurer's Department of West Yorkshire Police Authority and Office of the Deputy Prime Minister
	(70) A breakdown of police pay between uniformed and non-uniformed officers is not available.
	(71) Other expenditure includes police pensions, civilian pay, running expenses and capital financing. It is net of income, mainly special and specific grants and, for 2001–02, £4.5 million from the Crime Fighting Fund.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Capital Programmes (Funding)

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much funding was available for capital programmes in (a) rural and (b) urban areas in (i) 2001–02 and (ii) 2002–03.

David Miliband: We do not hold information in the form requested.
	The following table shows the total central Government support for capital investment in school buildings for each local education authority area in England, by type of authority.
	
		£ million
		
			 Authority type/LEA name 2001–02 2002–03 
		
		
			 County   
			 Bedfordshire (72)33,028 14,915 
			 Buckinghamshire 11,110 16,547 
			 Cambridgeshire 19,290 23,624 
			 Cheshire (72)30,622 18,778 
			 Cornwall 16,597 23,925 
			 Cumbria 12,963 17,495 
			 Derbyshire (72)46,017 30,988 
			 Devon 23,845 40,284 
			 Dorset 9,915 18,700 
			 Durham 14,486 22,302 
			 East Sussex 13,781 20,196 
			 Essex 35,175 (72)68,698 
			 Gloucestershire 20,965 21.993 
			 Hampshire 32,422 44,387 
			 Hertfordshire 20,792 35,755 
			 Kent (72)54,648 63,653 
			 Lancashire 29,652 43,803 
			 Leicestershire 12,743 20,531 
			 Lincolnshire (72)33,381 20,516 
			 Norfolk 21,569 (72)122,808 
			 North Yorkshire 15,059 20,597 
			 Northamptonshire 19,454 (72)46,859 
			 Northumberland 7,417 9,530 
			 Nottinghamshire (72)28,990 26,896 
			 Oxfordshire 23,610 24,690 
			 Shropshire 8,703 9,461 
			 Somerset 11,073 15,093 
			 Staffordshire 22,896 25,501 
			 Suffolk 18,637 24,163 
			 Surrey 24,072 32,092 
			 Warwickshire 11,555 19,570 
			 West Sussex 15,864 (72)81,212 
			 Wiltshire 10,070 15,130 
			 Worcestershire 14,955 20,302 
			 County total 725,536 1,060,994 
			
			 London   
			 Barking and Dagenham 5,794 (72)39,816 
			 Barnet 6,135 13,157 
			 Bexley 7,477 (72)45,800 
			 Brent 8,206 7,063 
			 Bromley 6,825 6,696 
			 Camden 4,937 (72)21,837 
			 City of London 114 133 
			 Croydon 6,228 (72)28,266 
			 Ealing 9,256 (72)49,422 
			 Enfield 7,461 19,877 
			 Greenwich 11,319 9,262 
			 Hackney 8,428 7,816 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 3,611 4,153 
			 Haringey 10,911 17,152 
			 Harrow 4,042 (72)20,305 
			 Havering 6,211 8,171 
			 Hillingdon 7,643 (72)23,710 
			 Hounslow 4,300 6,307 
			 Islington 4,023 9,043 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 2,961 2,099 
			 Kingston upon Thames 3,863 5,592 
			 Lambeth 9,572 6,752 
			 Lewisham 7,825 (72)74,692 
			 Merton (72)32,605 14,014 
			 Newham (72)38,435 13,916 
			 Redbridge (72)27,520 8,483 
			 Richmond upon Thames (72)22,245 3,367 
			 Southwark 6,933 11,811 
			 Sutton 6,750 7,938 
			 Tower Hamlets 7,860 10,995 
			 Waltham Forest 8,520 (72)65,389 
			 Wandsworth 6,991 12,261 
			 Westminster 3,573 5,255 
			 London total 307,574 580,550 
			
			 Metropolitan   
			 Barnsley 6,014 7,525 
			 Birmingham 25,452 35,025 
			 Bolton (72)11,740 13,716 
			 Bradford 53,180 51,662 
			 Bury 4,736 5,728 
			 Calderdale (72)41,320 6,994 
			 Coventry 9,121 (72)33100 
			 Doncaster 8,276 10,601 
			 Dudley (72)31,027 9,792 
			 Gateshead 7,905 7,085 
			 Kirklees 10,188 (72)36,314 
			 Knowsley 7,628 8,921 
			 Leeds 19,177 (72)48,339 
			 Liverpool 21,897 14,176 
			 Manchester 23,337 20,508 
			 Newcastle upon Tyne (72)54,956 8,102 
			 North Tyneside 22,349 (72)44,477 
			 Oldham 7,908 15,814 
			 Rochdale 7,039 7,598 
			 Rotherham 11,491 (72)64,654 
			 Salford (72)28659 17,565 
			 Sefton 11,146 15,207 
			 Sheffield (72)50,127 18,286 
			 Solihull 7,156 13,301 
			 South Tyneside 4,051 (72)21,703 
			 St. Helens 5,462 9,816 
			 Stockport 9,457 10,165 
			 Sunderland (72)29,527 14,700 
			 Tameside 8,538 7,003 
			 Trafford 7,785 11,283 
			 Wakefield 10,160 12,181 
			 Walsall 6,013 8,684 
			 Wigan 8,304 15,217 
			 Wirral 8,517 9,611 
			 Wolverhampton 5,178 9,178 
			 Metropolitan total 592,522 661,803 
			
			 Unitary   
			 Bath and North East Somerset 4,607 11,118 
			 Blackburn with Darwen 4,960 8,410 
			 Blackpool 8,302 6,529 
			 Bournemouth 4,657 3,189 
			 Bracknell Forest 1,705 2,453 
			 Brighton and Hove (72)28,614 5,387 
			 Bristol, City of 16,015 12,803 
			 Darlington 4,309 4,561 
			 Derby 9,802 8,249 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire 9,409 13,431 
			 Halton 5,619 5,316 
			 Hartlepool 4,464 2,834 
			 Herefordshire 4,927 6,573 
			 Isle of Wight 5,341 8,635 
			 Isles of Scilly 183 198 
			 Kingston Upon Hull, City of 13,093 11,756 
			 Leicester 9,750 7,285 
			 Luton 4,557 6,021 
			 Medway 11,484 13,639 
			 Middlesbrough 4,501 7,441 
			 Milton Keynes 8,822 14,430 
			 North East Lincolnshire 3,599 7,861 
			 North Lincolnshire 9,919 9,684 
			 North Somerset 5,141 5,456 
			 Nottingham 14,161 12,833 
			 Peterborough 8,295 6,289 
			 Plymouth 5,876 10,228 
			 Poole 5,742 5,637 
			 Portsmouth 3,842 4,256 
			 Reading 5,556 8,768 
			 Redcar and Cleveland 5,245 4,367 
			 Rutland 758 2,777 
			 Slough 2,823 5,951 
			 South Gloucestershire 9,769 13,905 
			 Southampton (72)47,931 8,867 
			 Southend-on-Sea 5,668 6,023 
			 Stockton-on-Tees (72)13,661 7,158 
			 Stoke-on-Trent 10,410 11,346 
			 Swindon 3,386 13,729 
			 Telford and Wrekin 6,070 9,499 
			 Thurrock 5,029 5,076 
			 Torbay 5,988 9,134 
			 Warrington 8,061 8,270 
			 West Berkshire 3,144 5,191 
			 Windsor and Maidenhead 2,630 4,982 
			 Workingham 7,591 7,046 
			 York 3,987 (72)17,218 
			 Unitary total 369,403 371,809 
			
			 England total 1,995,035 1,675,156 
		
	
	Note
	Figures exclude funds for ICT/National Grid for Learning. Figures marked with an asterisk include approved Private Finance Initative (PFI) credits.

Classroom Replacement (Somerset)

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what assistance he plans to make available to Somerset county council to help with replacement of classrooms in 2003;
	(2)  what assistance is available in the county settlement for 2003 for classroom replacement.

David Miliband: The Department currently allocates most capital funding for schools to local education authorities (LEAs) by needs-related formulae, and it is for authorities to assess and prioritise the capital needs of their school buildings through their asset management planning process, in consultation with local schools. Individual LEAs will therefore hold information on how much capital investment is being directed towards replacing classrooms in their area.
	Central Government support for capital investment in school buildings in Somerset LEA totals £15 million (including Voluntary Aided schools) in 2002–03, rising to £19.2 million in 2003–04, with further allocations shortly to be announced. This forms part of the total capital investment for England of £3 billion in 2002–03, rising to over £3.8 billion in 2003–04.

Construction Industry Training Board

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans he has to exclude plant hire organisations from the scope of the CITB levy.

Ivan Lewis: I have received a proposal from the Hire Association Europe Ltd (a trade association for the hire and rental sector) to exclude the hire and rental sector from the scope of the CITB. I am currently considering the proposal and will be consulting more widely before making a decision.

Education (Havering)

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on (a) class sizes and (b) teacher retention in the London borough of Havering.

Stephen Twigg: Over the last five years, average class sizes in maintained primary and secondary schools in Havering LEA have been very similar to the national average, as shown in the table. In September 2002, Havering achieved full compliance with infant class size legislation.
	Retention of good quality teachers in Havering, as elsewhere, is a key priority and we are aware that some schools in some areas are still experiencing problems. However, the new National Agreement signed by the Department and its key partners will enable us to take forward our plans for remodelling the teaching profession. This in turn will address the key recruitment and retention issues of workload and bureaucracy. Taken together with our work on improving pupil behaviour and strengthening leadership within schools, we believe this will lead to a further increase in new teachers in London and elsewhere and encourage more existing teachers to remain in the profession.
	
		Maintained primary schools 
		
			  Average class size(72) 
			 Position in January each year 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 
		
		
			 Havering LEA 28.0 28.2 27.9 27.3 27.1 
			 Outer London 27.6 27.5 27.4 27.1 27.0 
			 London 27.2 27.3 27.3 27.0 26.9 
			 England 27.7 27.4 27.1 26.7 26.3 
		
	
	
		Maintained secondary schools 
		
			  Average class size(72) 
			 Position in January each year 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 
		
		
			 Havering LEA 21.7 22.7 22.1 22.3 21.8 
			 Outer London 21.4 21.5 21.8 21.9 21.9 
			 London 21.7 21.8 22.0 22.1 22.1 
			 England 21.7 21.9 22.0 22.0 21.9 
		
	
	(72) Classes taught by one teacher.

E-mail Addresses

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills by what e-mail address members of the public may contact (a) him and (b) each of the Ministers in his Department; and for each e-mail address if he will state (i) the date it became active and (ii) the number of e-mails received in each month since activation.

Stephen Twigg: The Secretary of State and Ministers at the Department for Education and Skills can be contacted by members of the public by email at dfes.ministers@dfes.gsi.gov.uk—this email address has been active since 24 April 1999. The number of emails received each month for the last 12 months are shown in the following table. Figures for individual mail boxes are not retained beyond a one year period.
	
		
			 Month Number of emails 
		
		
			 2002  
			 March 121 
			 April 144 
			 May 116 
			 June 118 
			 July 181 
			 August 88 
			 September 2,897 
			 October 294 
			 November 209 
			 December 164 
			   
			 2003  
			 January 1,274

Examinations

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to his answer of 3 February, Official Report, column 87W, on examinations, what reasons he has researched as to why the costs were the same in 2001 and 2002; and how the costs relate to the number of pupils that took the tests in each year.

David Miliband: The cost given in my earlier reply for printing, distributing and marking the Year 7 progress tests in 2001 was incorrect. The correct figure is £1.7 million, 300,000 more than the 2002 cost of £1.4 million. The additional 300,000 in 2001 was due to higher marking costs because of the greater number of pupils entered in that year, and initial set-up costs in the first year of progress tests for the external marking agency.
	In 2001, 79,458 pupils took the English Year 7 progress test and 94,351 the mathematics Year 7 progress test. In 2002, 61,827 took the English, and 76,221 the mathematics Year 7 progress tests.

Health and Safety

Helen Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether his Department and its agencies have met the commitment arising from Action Point 13 of the June 2000 strategy statement on Revitalising Health and Safety to summarise health and safety performance and plans in annual reports from the year 2000–01 onwards.

Stephen Twigg: There was insufficient time for my Department to include a contribution on Health and Safety to the Department's annual report for 2000–01. We did include a contribution on performance and planning progress in 2001–02 and are currently preparing a more detailed entry for the 2002–03 report.

Health and Safety

Helen Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what information he has on the application to his Department and its agencies of the checklist, circulated by letter by Sir Richard Mottram, referred to under Action Point 12 of the Revitalising Health and Safety strategy statement; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Twigg: My Department's existing health and safety policy and procedures already incorporate many of the recommendations summarised in the ministerial checklist. The updated policy now under preparation will review existing provisions; update systems and approaches as necessary; establish new baselines against rigorous targets for reductions in work-related accidents and ill-health; and ensure that the Department can fully demonstrate compliance with these recommendations in addition to continuing to meet all of our statutory requirements.

Higher Education

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans he has to reduce the level of (a) regulatory requirements and (b) numbers of administrative staff in further education colleges; and if he will make a statement.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 13 February 2003
	We are reducing and will continue to reduce the burden of unnecessary red tape on further education colleges. We have already announced plans to reduce the number of separate budget lines for the Learning and Skills Council from 45 to five, and to consolidate targeted funds for pay and staff training into colleges' core funding, and to introduce three year funding for colleges, from this year.
	The Government and the Learning and Skills Council are committed to implementing in full the recommendations of the Bureaucracy Busting Task Force, chaired by Sir George Sweeney, which reported in November 2002. In particular, we will establish powerful scrutiny arrangements to keep in check demands on colleges, remove the requirement for all colleges to have an annual external audit of their Individual Learner Records, and work across government agencies to avoid repeat requests to colleges for the same information.
	We are determined to go further. In particular, we are working with the Inspectorates to introduce more co-ordinated inspection arrangements, for example for colleges providing both FE and HE, and lighter touch inspection arrangements for better performing colleges. We will also assess, in 2003, the regulation of FE institutions through a review of the Instrument and Articles of Government.
	FE institutions are independent corporations responsible for their own staffing and employment policies. As administrative burdens reduce, college managers will be free to make their own decisions about how they allocate resources within their own
	institutions.

Higher Education

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimates were used in establishing the costs of raising student bonds to cover a delay in repayment times, in drawing up the proposals in the policy document, The Future of Higher Education; and if he will make a statement.

Margaret Hodge: Raising bonds to cover a delay in repayment times of student loans is not part of the policy set out in the White Paper. We decided not to pursue bonds as an option because the gains from a Government issue of bonds were not clear, and the cost of borrowing by higher education institutions (to fund the lending involved in a bonds option) would inevitably have been higher than borrowing by Government. Forecasts of Government net debt are published bi-annually in the pre-budget report and the financial statement and budget report.

Higher Education

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimates were made of the extra income tax an average graduate earning £400,000 more than the average non graduate would pay if they were (a) a standard rate tax payer and (b) a higher rate tax payer, in drawing up the proposals in the policy document, The Future of Higher Education; and if he will make a statement.

Margaret Hodge: We said in the White Paper, The Future of Higher Education, that those with higher education qualifications earn around 50 per cent. more than non-graduates. Since graduates earn more than non-graduates, they also pay more tax. The amount of extra income tax they would pay over a working life will depend on how personal allowances, tax rates and thresholds change over time.
	In drawing up the proposals in the White Paper, no specific estimates were made of the extra income tax that graduates would pay over their working lives compared to non-graduates. The underpinning analysis was based on the principle of balancing the contribution from the taxpayer with the contribution from the student, bearing in mind the substantial benefit which is derived from having a degree.

Higher Education

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate of the funding gap in higher education his Department used in drawing up the proposals in the policy document, "The Future of Higher Education"; and if he will make a statement.

Margaret Hodge: Recent studies into the capital requirements of higher education institutions concluded that there was a need for some £8 billion of investment in infrastructure. The Secretary of State receives regular confidential advice from the Higher Education Funding Council for England and others on the financial needs of the sector against the background of the 36 per cent. real terms fall in spending per higher education student between 1989 and 1997. The announcements made in the White Paper "The future of higher education" and in the annual grant letter to the Higher Education Funding Council for England show the Government are increasing spending on higher education in England by an average of over 6 per cent. a year above inflation in the three years to 2005–06.

Higher Education (Family Incomes)

Keith Bradley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many families with at least one child in higher education had an income of less than £10,000 in each of the last five years.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 30 January 2003
	I refer my right hon. Friend to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Selly Oak (Lynn Jones) on 6 February 2003, Official Report, column 358W. Historic data are not available for students from families with parental residual 1 income below the threshold for means-tested tuition fee support. The current student support scheme introduced in 1998–99, provides students with full fee support if their income is below the threshold. Under the mandatory awards scheme in operation up to 1997–98, students received a full means-tested maintenance grant if their residual income was below the threshold. The threshold is reviewed and uprated annually.
	The following table shows the numbers of students entitled to full support (as outlined above) under each scheme for the academic years 1996–97 to 2000–01 and the relevant residual income thresholds in each year.
	1 Residual income is gross income less the allowances detailed in my Department's guidance, "Financial Support for Higher Education Students".
	
		Number of higher education students (thousands) assessed to receive full student support in England and Wales(73)Academic year 1996–97 to 2000–012
		
			  Academic year(75) 
			  1996–97 1997–98 1998–99(76) 1999–2000 2000–01(77) 
		
		
			 Residual income threshold level for dependent students (£) 16,050 16,450 16,945 17,370 17,805 
			 Residual income threshold level for independent students (£) 12,700 13,105 13,405 14,700 15,070 
			   
			 Student support scheme students(78),(79)  
			 Dependent students — — 69 148 194 
			 Independent students — — 39 68 95 
			 Total all students — — 108 216 289 
			   
			 Mandatory scheme students(80)  
			 Dependent students 199 201 134 81 27 
			 Independent students 144 137 77 40 12 
			 Total all students 343 337 211 121 39 
			   
			 Total all students(81)  
			 Dependent students 199 201 203 229 221 
			 Independent students 144 137 116 108 107 
			 Total all students 343 337 319 337 328 
		
	
	(73) The table shows awards made by local education authorities in England and Wales to students normally domiciled in their area.
	(74) Provisional.
	(75) New students in 1998–99 received support for maintenance through income-assessed grants (comprising about a quarter of the support available) and non income-assessed student loans (about three quarters of the support available). From 1999–2000, students who entered higher education from 1998–99 onwards received support for maintenance entirely through loans, of which approximately three-quarters of the value was non income-assessed.
	(76) Data in 1998–99 include an estimated 15,000 student support scheme students in England and Wales who, because they did not expect to receive a contribution to their support from public funds did not make an application to their local authority.
	(77) Data for academic year 2000–01 are provisional.
	(78) Student support scheme funding arrangements in higher education came into effect from the start of the 1998–99 academic year, thus accounting for the apparent steep rise in student numbers through the academic years.
	(79) Most new students in 1998–99, 1999–2000 and 2000–01 were expected to contribute up to £1,000, £1,025 and £1,050 respectively towards the cost of their tuition depending on family income.
	(80) Students who entered higher education up to 1997–98 and those who entered in 1998–99 to whom the mandatory scheme funding arrangements applied received support for maintenance through income-assessed grants.
	(81) Totals may not add through due to roundings.

Maintenance Grant

Jeff Ennis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate he has made of the cost to his Department of introducing a maintenance grant of (a) £1,000 per annum, (b) £1,500 per annum and (c) £2,000 per annum for higher education students from households in the lowest (i) quartile and (ii) decile of annual income.

Margaret Hodge: The estimated costs of providing maintenance grants of (a) £1,000 per annum, (b) £1,500 per annum and (c) £2,000 per annum to students in the lowest (i) quartile and (ii) decile of annual income in 2001–02 are presented in the following table.
	
		Estimated costs of maintenance grants in academic year 2001–02 -- £ million
		
			  Residual income 
			 Level of grant Lowest quartile Lowest decile 
		
		
			 £1,000 200 80 
			 £1,500 300 120 
			 £2,000 390 160 
		
	
	Note:
	Figures have been individually rounded
	These estimates are based on projected student numbers for English and Welsh domiciled students in UK Higher Education Institutions in 2001–02. As numbers increase so would the cost of providing grants to a fixed percentage. The figures in the table assume that all students either the lowest 25 per cent. or 10 per cent. qualify for the full amount of the grant and that those above these levels get no grant. In practice, means tested grants are almost always tapered out more gently above the threshold for entitlement of the full grant. This increases the costs.

National Behaviour and Attendance Strategy

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on his national behaviour and attendance strategy.

Ivan Lewis: We are investing £470 million over the next three years in the national behaviour and attendance strategy to help tackle poor behaviour and absence from school, as well as introducing Fixed Penalty Notices and extending the use of Parenting Orders for persistent truancy offences.
	£73 million will be spent on a universal element that will, through the behaviour and attendance strand of Key Stage 3, provide all secondary schools in England with behaviour and attendance auditing materials, training materials designed to help staff manage unacceptable behaviour, and a support structure. A further £396 million will be used to provide targeted packages through the behaviour and attendance strand of Excellence in Cities that will enable around 400 secondaries and approximately 1500 primaries to have multi-agency education and support teams for pupils and their families, police involvement with schools and more truancy sweeps.

Network Learning Communities

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many designated specialist schools are involved in the network learning communities organised by the National College for School Leadership.

David Miliband: There are 105 specialist schools involved in networked learning communities.

Renewable Energy

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what changes in unit payments for electricity have resulted from the switch by his Department to purchasing renewable energy which is exempt from the Climate Change Levy.

Stephen Twigg: In 2001–02 my Department purchased 10 per cent. of its electricity from renewable sources which were exempt from the Climate Change Levy. The overall bill was 0.06 per cent. higher than if no renewable electricity had been purchased.

School Exclusions

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many problematic drug users (a) were temporarily excluded from school, (b) permanently excluded from school and (c) have one or more GCSEs in the last year for which figures are available.

David Miliband: The information requested is not available centrally. The Department's regular data collections on pupils in schools and exclusions from school—mainly the Annual Schools' Census—do not record whether or not pupils are drug users. Similarly, pupil attainment data do not record this.
	Following a review of data collected on exclusions, the department is planning to collect information from Local Education Authorities on both fixed term and permanent exclusions on a termly basis from this summer. We expect that this will capture the reason for exclusion.

Secondary Schools (Haltemprice and Howden)

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will list the class sizes for (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in Haltemprice and Howden in each of the last five academic years.

Stephen Twigg: The information requested is shown in the table:
	
		Maintained primary and secondary schools: average class size(82) -- Haltemprice and Howden parliamentary constituencyJanuary 1998–2002
		
			  Maintained primary schools Maintained secondary schools 
		
		
			 2002 27.2 22.0 
			 2001 27.7 21.6 
			 2000 28.2 22.7 
			 1999 28.7 22.9 
			 1998 29.3 22.8 
		
	
	(82) One teacher classes

Skill Shortages (Suffolk)

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment he has made of the skill shortages experienced by employers in Suffolk.

Ivan Lewis: My Department has funded a number of surveys of employers to assess their current and future skill needs. The Employers Skill Survey, funded by my Department, interviewed 27,000 employers across England in 1999 and in 2001, and was carried out on a smaller scale in 2002. The survey results provide evidence on trends in skill shortages, including headline measures at the level of local Learning and Skills Council boundaries.
	The role of assessing detailed skill needs in regions and localities is the responsibility of Regional Development Agencies and the Learning and Skills Council respectively. However, the Employers Skill Survey 2001 showed that 2.1 per cent. of employers in Suffolk reported skill shortages compared to 3.7 per cent. across England as a whole.

Skills Training

Ross Cranston: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether the forthcoming review of the funding of adult education will include a review of provision for those private individuals who fund their own skills training.

Ivan Lewis: The Review of Funding of Adult Learning has a remit to consider all funding for adult learning post 19, including how the Government's various support mechanisms for learning could be more effectively deployed to provide incentives to employers to engage in training; cause institutions to be responsive to employer needs, building their capacity to work with employers; widen participation in learning by the low skilled; and enable Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) to play their full and effective role in developing and implementing regional skills strategies. The outcomes of the Review will form part of the Skills Strategy, to be published in June 2003.

Skills Training

Ross Cranston: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assistance he intends to give to private individuals who meet the cost of skills training from their own resources as opposed to their employer's; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: The Government is not yet in a position to make a statement about the assistance that will be given to private individuals meeting the costs of learning. As part of the fundamental Review of the Funding of Adult Learning that is currently being undertaken, we are looking at all possible options for funding the acquisition of skills, from the points of view of both individuals and employers. The outcomes of the Review will form part of the Skills Strategy, to be published in June 2003. The Strategy will set out how different government programmes and policies will contribute to raising the skills of the population.

Skills Training

Ross Cranston: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what recent representations he has received from learning providers about (a) the need for higher level IT skills and (b) the Government's policy on this issue.

Ivan Lewis: I have not received any significant representations from learning providers on the need for higher level skills in the Information Technology (IT) sector in recent months. However, we remain aware of their ongoing importance and committed to the policies we have introduced to meet these needs. Skills deficits in the sector have declined from their peak in 1999 when the Stevens report, "Skills for the Information Age" highlighted these issues. Since that time, an £8 million programme of measures has been put in place to improve the image of the IT industry, build greater understanding of the labour market and strengthen links between education and industry.
	Recent developments include establishing New Technology Institutes to provide high quality teaching facilities and progression routes into honours degrees, based on partnership between universities, colleges and employers. And currently, e-skills-UK are in the final stages of development to becoming the Sector Skills Council for the industry. They will provide a vital lead in articulating employers' requirements and helping to ensure there is high quality and relevant provision available.

Skills Training

Ross Cranston: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether the skills strategy about which he has recently consulted will include provision to encourage private individuals to meet the costs of their own skills training in higher level IT skills and other skill areas.

Ivan Lewis: The Government will publish the Skills Strategy in June 2003; one element of that Strategy will be the consideration of how individuals can be encouraged to meet the costs of learning at higher levels. The Review of Funding of Adult Learning—the outcomes of which will feed into the Skills Strategy—is currently considering ICT issues, including how ICT skills might be delivered, and how training to acquire those skills might be supported through funding.

Social Policy Research

Peter Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what evaluation has been made of social policy research commissioned by Government agencies at (a) the University of York and (b) other universities; and if he will make a statement.

Margaret Hodge: The Department evaluates all its research projects using systematic criteria. The process also includes holding feedback meetings with research contractors after completion and publication of the contracted work. The findings from research link directly to departmental policy development and programme evaluation.
	The Department has run five projects with the University of York in the last four years. Four projects have been completed and have fully met the Department's requirements. The fifth is still in progress.
	Information received from the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) states that
	"The ESRC evaluates all of its research projects using systematic criteria". Since 1990, the council has funded 301 social policy research projects at UK universities, including 12 projects at the University of York. All this work has been evaluated by the ESRC's research evaluation committee, and the results have been used to guide the development of the council's research strategy.

Social Policy Research

Peter Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans he has to expand social policy research on a regional basis, commissioned to educational institutions within that region; and if he will make a statement.

Margaret Hodge: The Department has no plans to expand its research in any particular region.
	The Department's research projects are normally commissioned through competitive tendering exercises. Universities across the UK, as well as other research organisations are invited to express an interest in tendering for individual research projects through the Department's research website. Contractors are then invited to submit a tender.
	In the financial year 2002–03 the Department has 84 projects contracted to universities with a total contract value of £20 million.
	Information received from the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) states that
	"The ESRC will continue to fund social policy research through its grant awarding boards and has no plans to allocate funds on a regional basis."

Special Needs

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many children are enrolled in special needs education establishments; and how many schools with special needs provision there are (a) in England and Wales and (b) in each local education authority.

Ivan Lewis: The information requested has been placed in the Libraries.
	The information provided includes the number of special schools and the number of pupils in those schools. It also includes the number of pupils with a statement of Special Education Needs (SEN) and the number of pupils with SEN, but without a statement in maintained primary and secondary schools. In keeping with the SEN Code of Practice 2001 the special educational needs of children will normally be met in mainstream schools or settings.
	For information on Wales I refer the hon. Member to the Welsh Assembly.

Special Needs

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the annual total cost is of special needs education in England and Wales, broken down by local education authority.

Ivan Lewis: The information requested is not held by the Department in this form. The following table details the amount each LEA spends on SEN funding as reported in its Section 52 BudgetStatement. This includes the LEA central spend and the amount delegated to schools that is notionally for SEN. Information is also given showing how much each LEA receives through SEN Standards Fund grant:
	Funding provided by LEAs for SEN in England in 2002–03
	All figures as reported by LEAs through their Section 52 budget statements at 6 February 2003.
	
		
			 LEANumber: LEA Name: Total funding for SEN(83),(84) SEN Standards Fund (£) 
		
		
			 201 City of London 236,600 3,473 
			 202 Camden 15,641,127 356,966 
			 203 Greenwich 22,178,180 548,289 
			 204 Hackney 16,777,833 446,394 
			 205 Hammersmith and Fulham 10,181,377 284,832 
			 206 Islington 13,071,992 412,874 
			 207 Kensington and Chelsea 6,711,499 172,389 
			 208 Lambeth 20,863,299 462,390 
			 209 Lewisham 15,200,492 523,992 
			 210 Southwark 19,204,289 593,172 
			 211 Tower Hamlets 22,053,375 756,602 
			 212 Wandsworth 23,631,595 401,719 
			 213 Westminster 8,419,270 284,850 
			 301 Barking and Dagenham 11,060,380 392,638 
			 302 Barnet 27,766,463 555,785 
			 303 Bexley 17,184,898 445,489 
			 304 Brent 16,728,644 515,926 
			 305 Bromley 16,876,550 514,196 
			 306 Croydon 23,125,421 624,552 
			 307 Ealing 22,031,735 578,333 
			 308 Enfield 19,108,245 608,760 
			 309 Haringey 21,606,606 552,293 
			 310 Harrow 13,115,046 322,654 
			 311 Havering 9,678,197 397,584 
			 312 Hillingdon 19,577,874 457,857 
			 313 Hounslow 16,092,095 449,613 
			 314 Kingston upon Thames 10,551,892 202,323 
			 315 Merton 12,966,936 265,064 
			 316 Newham 23,767,278 774,089 
			 317 Redbridge 14,878,819 487,733 
			 318 Richmond upon Thames 7,598,885 214,613 
			 319 Sutton 14,685,590 305,375 
			 320 Waltham Forest 22,874,896 500,193 
			 330 Birmingham 101,417,436 2,585,541 
			 331 Coventry 19,653,653 625,665 
			 332 Dudley 17,254,425 583,112 
			 333 Sandwell 18,966,621 673,797 
			 334 Solihull 11,245,334 409,502 
			 335 Walsall 18,705,987 589,239 
			 336 Wolverhampton 16,566,442 544,127 
			 340 Knowsley 13,226,573 483,870 
			 341 Liverpool 29,791,546 1,253,449 
			 342 St. Helens 9,724,840 373,966 
			 343 Sefton 16,038,519 589,487 
			 344 Wirral 22,028,958 781,104 
			 350 Bolton 16,513,091 556,148 
			 351 Bury 11,461,352 326,055 
			 352 Manchester 29,976,057 1,203,034 
			 353 Oldham 13,791,650 543,617 
			 354 Rochdale 13,843,454 490,952 
			 355 Salford 15,900,945 510,802 
			 356 Stockport 13,387,314 485,295 
			 357 Tameside 10,108,375 473,930 
			 358 Trafford 12,222,731 416,047 
			 359 Wigan 19,073,439 591,448 
			 370 Barnsley 11,641,026 452,304 
			 371 Doncaster 15,626,470 638,822 
			 372 Rotherham 17,802,382 553,637 
			 373 Sheffield 21,226,585 973,164 
			 380 Bradford 22,863,022 1,129,345 
			 381 Calderdale 9,551,724 414,346 
			 382 Kirklees 20,237,948 784,743 
			 383 Leeds 43,069,380 1,398,372 
			 384 Wakefield 14,993,699 630,932 
			 390 Gateshead 10,953,161 394,233 
			 391 Newcastle upon Tyne 15,272,962 578,462 
			 392 North Tyneside 11,138,565 386,192 
			 393 South Tyneside 17,575,930 346,625 
			 394 Sunderland 11,873,978 720,548 
			 420 Isles Of Scilly 56,840 2,516 
			 800 Bath and North East Somerset 8,465,849 261,928 
			 801 Bristol City of 28,349,268 663,005 
			 802 North Somerset 9,264,633 282,153 
			 803 South Gloucestershire 13,198,640 403,433 
			 805 Hartlepool 7,153,072 228,260 
			 806 Middlesbrough 10,576,948 366,466 
			 807 Redcar and Cleveland 7,023,656 327,969 
			 808 Stockton-on-Tees 13,102,445 407,466 
			 810 Kingston upon Hull City of 19,393,098 588,652 
			 811 East Riding of Yorkshire 18,853,655 521,650 
			 812 North East Lincolnshire 8,521,036 361,416 
			 813 North Lincolnshire 10,623,631 289,341 
			 815 North Yorkshire 34,779,643 884,781 
			 816 York 11,185,006 261,608 
			 820 Bedfordshire 20,980,789 664,405 
			 821 Luton 13,521,604 422,055 
			 825 Buckinghamshire 30,021,856 717,443 
			 826 Milton Keynes 17,493,025 376,336 
			 830 Derbyshire 50,632,480 1,255,381 
			 831 Derby 15,838,470 475,510 
			 835 Dorset 25,829,938 520,653 
			 836 Poole 8,445,388 192,091 
			 837 Bournemouth 9,796,742 223,400 
			 840 Durham 26,773,011 952,525 
			 841 Darlington 5,116,672 191,595 
			 845 East Sussex 33,612,326 747,091 
			 846 Brighton and Hove 17,925,701 367,140 
			 850 Hampshire 66,087,734 1,781,879 
			 851 Portsmouth 12,211,286 315,149 
			 852 Southampton 12,262,618 375,014 
			 855 Leicestershire 30,937,175 953,200 
			 856 Leicester 21,189,894 631,182 
			 857 Rutland 1,736,448 46,373 
			 860 Staffordshire 44,684,920 1,405,701 
			 861 Stoke-on-Trent 10,782,710 544,872 
			 
			 865 Wiltshire 20,090,762 646,262 
			 866 Swindon 12,966,379 317,745 
			 867 Bracknell Forest 5,167,077 144,065 
			 868 Windsor and Maidenhead 6,617,485 183,074 
			 869 West Berkshire 8,252,059 231,090 
			 870 Reading 6,786,016 194,840 
			 871 Slough 8,675,140 227,685 
			 872 Wokingham 7,522,778 218,582 
			 873 Cambridgeshire 36,070,099 788,170 
			 874 Peterborough 15,452,957 365,952 
			 875 Cheshire 38,194,690 1,137,524 
			 876 Halton 9,523,934 285,959 
			 877 Warrington 10,355,877 347,215 
			 878 Devon 39,122,425 1,041,682 
			 879 Plymouth 18,161,040 492,046 
			 880 Torbay 6,060,759 228,566 
			 881 Essex 69,923,243 2,125,590 
			 882 Southend-on-Sea 11,510,525 306,222 
			 883 Thurrock 8,455,476 254,967 
			 884 Herefordshire 10,457,240 244,567 
			 885 Worcestershire 23,007,369 846,417 
			 886 Kent 86,940,791 2,274,562 
			 887 Medway 17,800,794 484,053 
			 888 Lancashire 88,090,821 2,095,325 
			 889 Blackburn with Darwen 14,802,781 351,988 
			 890 Blackpool 9,955,145 278,757 
			 891 Nottinghamshire 32,796,893 1,334,933 
			 892 Nottingham 9,723,343 626,071 
			 893 Shropshire 12,274,705 414,188 
			 894 Telford and Wrekin 11,520,969 330,669 
			 908 Cornwall 25,392,606 796,800 
			 909 Cumbria 29,069,358 870,145 
			 916 Gloucestershire 31,843,035 872,565 
			 919 Hertfordshire 58,419,568 1,742,247 
			 921 Isle of Wight 8,664,367 234,033 
			 925 Lincolnshire 33,910,718 997,991 
			 926 Norfolk 38,641,139 1,248,755 
			 928 Northamptonshire 34,167,211 1,099,536 
			 929 Northumberland 30,009,036 564,435 
			 931 Oxfordshire 27,923,355 861,854 
			 933 Somerset 26,284,662 735,134 
			 935 Suffolk 29,692,548 1,063,841 
			 936 Surrey 72,841,153 1 ,349,662 
			 937 Warwickshire 33,292,978 790,627 
			 938 West Sussex 50,492,439 1 ,039,050 
		
	
	(83) Includes from Table 1: Total central spend by LEAs on SEN which covers Educational Pyschology Service/Assessments and statementing, provision for pupils with statements, specialist support: Pupils with and without statements, promoting good practice/collaboration/integration; and ISB for special schools.
	(84) Also includes from Table 2A of the budget statement funding delegated to primary and secondary schools identified as "notional SEN" (figures are only indicative of the amount that might be spent by schools on SEN).

Special Needs

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps his Department is taking to ensure special needs provision is available for children with autism; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: Schools and local education authorities have duties under the Education Act 1996 to identify, assess and make suitable provision for children with special educational needs, including those with autism. Provision for children with autism is made in mainstream schools with support; autism units attached to maintained schools; generic special schools; independent, non-maintained or maintained autism specialist schools or through home-based provision.
	To help schools, local education authorities and others develop and audit appropriate provision, my Department, in partnership with the Department of Health, published good practice guidance on autistic spectrum disorders last year. Among other things, this reflected the work of the Department for Education and Skills-funded West Midlands SEN Regional Partnership which has been focusing on a regional, multi-agency approach to creating a range of provision to meet the range of autistic children's needs.

Stage 3/GCSE

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment he has made of the effect of in-school variation on value added standards of achievement at key stage 3 and GCSE.

David Miliband: There is evidence of wide variation in pupil progress in schools. The Department plans to publish a Statistical Bulletin later this year analysing value added at each key stage by pupil characteristics. This will for the first time link the new Pupil Level Annual School Census data with value added data.

Student Loans

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what his estimate is of the annual cost of the collection of student loan repayments; what sum is paid by his Department to the Inland Revenue for this work; and if he will make a statement.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 3 February 2003
	There are two types of student loan. Borrowers under the pre-1998–99 scheme of mortgage style loans repay their loans direct to the Student Loans Company (SLC). Most borrowers under the current income-contingent loans scheme repay their loans through the tax system.
	The SLC will spend around £12 million in the 2002–03 financial year on collecting repayments on mortgage style student loans not sold to the private sector, and on those income-contingent loans not collected by the Inland Revenue—voluntary repayments and repayments from borrowers outside the UK. The Inland Revenue is expected to charge around £1.9 million for collecting income-contingent loan repayments through the tax system in 2002–03. These costs are shared between England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Study Support Schemes

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what research has been commissioned by his Department to assess the benefits of youth action groups established with funding through partnerships of study support schemes; whether youth action groups have helped to reduce anti-social behaviour in school age children; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: The Partners for Study Support scheme is being evaluated by the University ofSunderland and their report will be published in April 2003. Only one of the 134 projects funded through this scheme involved youth action groups. Crime-reduction projects in other school-related schemes are being evaluated as part of those schemes.

Teacher Vacancies (Portsmouth, South)

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many teacher vacancies there were in Portsmouth, South in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: Vacancy figures are available only at local authority level. The table provides information available for Portsmouth LEA since it was created in April 1997.
	
		
			 January Teachers(85) Vacancies(86) Vacancy Rate(87)(percentage) 
		
		
			 1998 1,220 23 1.9 
			 1999 1,390 16 1.2 
			 2000 1,310 19 1.5 
			 2001 1,330 59 4.5 
			 2002 1,250 35 2.8 
		
	
	(85) Full-time teachers in post in the maintained schools sector.
	(86) Advertised vacancies for full-time permanent appointments (or appointments of at least one term's duration) in maintained nursery, primary, secondary and special schools. Includes vacancies being filled on a temporary basis.
	(87) Vacancies as a percentage of teachers in post.
	Source:DfES annual 618 survey

Training and Skills (Financial Support)

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much financial support he is giving in 2002–03 for training and skills in (a) rural and (b) urban areas.

Ivan Lewis: This is a matter for the Learning and Skills Council. John Harwood, the Council's Chief Executive, will write to the hon. Gentleman with the information requested and a copy of his reply will be placed in the Library.

Tuition Fees

Jeff Ennis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate he has made of the additional income that would be raised by increasing the payment towards tuition fees under the existing arrangements to £1,500 per annum.

Margaret Hodge: Assuming that the means tested element of tuition fees for Academic Year 2002/03 had been set at £1,500 rather than £1,100, we estimate that English Higher Education Institutions would have received additional fee income of £310 million in the Financial Year 2002–03, made up from
	(i) approximately £160 million of public contributions and,
	(ii) approximately £150 million of private contributions.
	The residual income 1 threshold 2 at which private contributions to fee support begin and the level of residual income at which the public contribution to fees reaches zero, are both assumed to be unchanged. Therefore the steepness of the taper (private contribution per £ of residual income) is assumed to increase. It has been further assumed that the changes to fees and means-testing have no impact on the number of students going to higher education, nor on their distribution by residual income.
	These estimates are based on projections of student numbers for 2002/03 derived from actual data for academic year 2000/01. Private contributions have been estimated from 2000/01 LEA income assessment data and assumed growth rates in annual earnings.
	1 Residual Income is gross income less the allowances detailed in my Department's guidance, "Financial Support for Higher Education Students"
	2 £20,480 for dependent students and £17,715 for independent in 2002/03.

Universities (Access)

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how he will ensure students will not be excluded from universities who charge higher tuition fees.

Margaret Hodge: Any university which wishes to charge variable fees will be required to have an Access Agreement which will be approved and monitored by the Access Regulator. The Regulator will monitor admission arrangements to ensure they promote fair access and will seek to extend current good practice through, for example, bursary schemes. The maximum fee will be capped in real terms for the duration of the next Parliament at £3,000. Additionally no student or family will have to pay fees before or while they are studying. Students will be able to defer their fees as for the current maintenance loans. No interest above inflation will be charged on either loans for maintenance or fees, and the threshold at which repayment starts will be raised to £15,000 to make repayment easier for everyone. Students from low income backgrounds will be eligible to have up to £1,100 of their fees paid, and student grants of £1,000 will also be introduced for those from low income families.

University Entrants

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on the number of students expected to enter university in (a) 2003–04 and (b) 2004–05.

Margaret Hodge: The latest data from the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) show UK and overseas applicants for entry into English universities are up by 1.7 per cent. from 300,000 in 2002–03 to 305,000 in 2003–04. These are very early figures as the applications cycle is only just beginning, but we welcome the increase in applicants. It is too early to say what the final picture will be as it is final acceptance figures, not early application figures, which are the most important indicator of entry to HE.
	Detailed estimates of the number of students expected to enter university in 2004–05 are not available.

Vocational Training

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to his answer of 3 February 2003, Official Report, column 98W, on vocational training, if he will set out his plans for the programme to ensure two weeks of work experience with employers or other organisations is available for all pupils in Key Stage 4.

Ivan Lewis: Over 95 per cent. of school pupils already undertake work experience placements in their last years of compulsory schooling to develop the skills and attitudes essential for the world of work. About 75 per cent. of these placements are for two weeks or longer. The Department provides £25 million a year, via the Learning and Skills Council (LSC), for school/business links activities. Around £10 million goes towards the costs of the work experience programme, which aims to ensure that all Key Stage 4 pupils can undertake at least two weeks' high quality work experience. In addition, a range of guidance and support is provided by the Department and the LSC to help local partners meet this objective. Independent evaluations of work experience show that placements are generally satisfactory and well-received by schools, pupils and employers.

HEALTH

Child Protection

Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on his role in maintaining accurate child protection records.

Jacqui Smith: In December 1999, the Secretary of State published Working Together to Safeguard Children, a guide to interagency working to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, using his powers under Section 7 of the Local Authority Social Services Act 1970.
	"Working Together to Safeguard Children" includes guidance to agencies and professionals in relation to record keeping. It makes clear that good record keeping is an important part of the accountability of professionals to those who use their services, and that well kept records provide an essential underpinning to good child protection practice.
	Records should be accessible and comprehensive, with judgments made, and actions and decisions taken being carefully recorded. They should use clear, straightforward language, should be concise, and should be accurate not only in fact, but also in differentiating between opinion, judgements and hypothesis.
	The Social Services Inspectorate performance monitors the implementation of the Working Together to Safeguard Children guidance (and other relevant Government guidance) through its programme of inspections of children's services.

Child Protection

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures he is taking to improve joint working between Multi-Agency Public Protection Panels and Area Child Protection Committees to safeguard children.

Jacqui Smith: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on Monday 10 February 2003, Official Report, column 587–88W.

Child Protection

Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many allegations in terms of the Children's Act 1989 were made by health trusts in respect of child protection issues in each of the last five years.

Jacqui Smith: The information requested is not held centrally.

Child Protection

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent discussions he has had with (a) representatives of the NSPCC on child protection and (b) the Fostering Network on care of children.

Jacqui Smith: The Department works closely with voluntary organisations which have an interest in safeguarding children.
	My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health has had no recent discussions. However, I meet with relevant voluntary organisations to discuss these issues.

Imported Infections

Neil Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how he intends to take account of the views of clinicians and community-based organisations working with vulnerable populations in the inquiry into imported infections;
	(2)  from which key stakeholders evidence will be sought for the inquiry into imported infections.

Hazel Blears: The Cabinet Office is co-ordinating an internal review of immigration and infectious diseases and access to the National Health Service, involving relevant government departments including the Department of Health. The review will establish the facts on the impact of imported infections on public health and NHS resources and report to Ministers. There are no plans at this stage of the review to seek views from external stakeholders.

Acute Psychiatric Beds

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many acute psychiatric beds in each strategic health authority are occupied by patients aged (a) over 65, (b) over 75 and (c) over 85.

Jacqui Smith: The Department does not routinely collect such information.

Ambulances

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many fully operational ambulances were stationed (a) during the day and (b) at night at each of the ambulance stations in the Ribble Valley and Fulwood in each year since 1997.

Jacqui Smith: The information requested is not collected centrally.

Area Child Protection Committees

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what resources are (a) available and (b) proposed for area child protection committees;
	(2)  if he will make a statement on future arrangements for Area Child Protection Committees.

Jacqui Smith: Area child protection committee (ACPC) expenditure, is a matter for local agreement. As a multi-agency forum, the ACPC should be supported in its work by its main constituent agencies, reflecting the investment of each agency in activities which are of benefit to all, in particular inter-agency training.
	The Joint Chief Inspectors' report Safeguarding Children, published on the 14 October 2002, contains a recommendation that the Department of Health should review the current arrangements for ACPCs to determine whether they should be established on a statutory basis to ensure adequate accountability, authority and funding.
	The Government have welcomed the publication of this report, and will respond in full to its recommendations, together with those of the Victoria Climbie Inquiry in the Children At Risk Green Paper in the spring.

Area Child Protection Committees

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on placing Area Child Protection Committees on a statutory footing; and if he will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: The Joint Chief Inspectors' report Safeguarding Children, published on 14 October 2002, contains a recommendation that the Department of Health should review the current arrangements for area child protection committees, to determine whether they should be established on a statutory basis to ensure adequate accountability, authority and funding.
	The Government have welcomed the publication of this report and will respond in full to its recommendations, together with those of the Victoria Climbie Inquiry, in the Children At Risk Green Paper in the spring.

Audiologists

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many audiologists are employed by each NHS trust;
	(2)  how many vacancies for audiologists there are in the NHS.

Jacqui Smith: Information on numbers of audiologists employed in National Health Service trusts and vacancies for audiologists in the NHS are not separately available; they are included in physiological measurement staff. The information available has been placed in the Library.

Building Capacity Grant

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to organise a further round of funding of the building capacity grant.

Jacqui Smith: The Building Care Capacity Grant 2002–3 represents the final year of this funding to local authorities. Funding for building capacity was absorbed within the overall personal social services settlement for 2003–04. Furthermore, the Access and Systems Capacity Grant 2003–4 is a new grant, intended to expand the capacity and range of community based social care services for older people, and is being distributed according to the new older people's formula for social services.

Cancelled Operations

Dr. Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 28 January 2003, Official Report, column 803W, on cancelled operations, what monitoring will be undertaken centrally to ensure that hospitals are meeting the guarantee set out in the NHS Plan.

John Hutton: In line with the NHS Plan cancelled operations guarantee, data are collected on the numberof patients still waiting for an operation 28 days after their operation was originally cancelled by the hospital for non-clinical reasons on the day of surgery. As part of these data returns, from Quarter 4 2002–03, National Health Service trusts will be required to submit full data on where patients, who are breaches of the NHS Plan guarantee, have been treated; for example, at the same NHS trust, at another NHS Trust, in the private/independent sector or abroad.

Cancer Plan

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment has been made of the effectiveness of the money allocated for palliative care in the cancer plan.

Hazel Blears: Estimates from Help the Hospices show that the level of statutory funding for voluntary hospices has increased by 14 per cent, in cash terms over the past two years. However, it is clear that only slow progress has been made towards meeting our commitment in the NHS Cancer Plan of an extra £50 million for specialist palliative care by 2004. That is why we are setting up a central budget for the £50 million from 2003–04. I refer my hon. Friend to the response I gave him today.

Cancer Research

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much money was spent on average in each of the last five years on research into (a) the prevention of cancer and (b) the link between diet and cancer in the UK.

Hazel Blears: The information requested is not available. However, in April 2001 the Government established the National Cancer Research Institute (NCRI) in partnership with the charities and the pharmaceutical industry.
	The NCRI's first strategic analysis, which was published in October 2002, was an overview of the £257 million a year of cancer research in the United Kingdom that is directly funded by the NCRI's fifteen partner organisations. This analysis showed an apparently small investment—2 per cent.—in research into cancer prevention. But this category only included research aimed at the direct application of strategies to prevent cancer, and several other facets that inform preventive strategies are covered by other categories, such as aetiology, which includes diet.
	The real investment in research relevant to future cancer prevention strategies was therefore larger than 2 per cent., but was still relatively low. The NCRI partner organisations agreed that the scale of research into cancer risk would benefit from closer joint examination. The NCRI has established a strategic planning group to carry out a much more detailed analysis of the research activity in this area, to discuss any potential opportunities and to identify any further action necessary.

Teenage Cancer

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many beds are available for teenage cancer patients on exclusively teenage wards in (a) the North West of England and (b) Lancashire.

Jacqui Smith: Information on bed numbers is not collected centrally at the level of detail requested.

Child Abuse/Neglect

Debra Shipley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children were recorded as having died in each of the last 10 years following suspected or confirmed (a) abuse and (b) neglect.

Jacqui Smith: Information detailing the number of children who have died in each of the last ten years following abuse or neglect is not held centrally.
	However, by revamping its databases of serious cases, the Department of Health has a record of serious case notifications from 1 April 2002. Of the 119 notifications between 1 April 2002 and 31 January 2003, 91 were of deaths and 28 were of serious injuries.
	Information detailing the number of children under 16 years old, who are currently recorded as being victims of homicide (a category which covers murder, manslaughter and infanticide) over the last ten years has been placed in the Library.

Children's Database

Debra Shipley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  which agencies and organisations have access to the Department of Health's computerised database of deaths and serious injuries of children;
	(2)  what use is made of the information on the Department of Health's computerised database of deaths and serious injuries of children.

Jacqui Smith: No outside organisations have routine access to the database. However, data derived from this database and its predecessors have been made available to bona fide researchers and others with a legitimate basis for their inquiry.
	The data will inform policy development and the biennial overview of Serious Case Reviews (the first of which was published in June 2002), thus ensuring that important lessons from case reviews are put into the professional and public domain without compromising the confidentiality of vulnerable children, such as siblings of children who have died as a result of child abuse.

Chiropodists/Podiatrists

Kerry Pollard: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what discussions there have been between the Department of Health and the Health Professions Council on how the public will differentiate between the different clinical competencies and qualifications of individual chiropodist and podiatrist practitioners;
	(2)  if he will make a statement on the efficacy of using the titles chiropodist and podiatrist to differentiate between the clinical competencies and qualifications of different chiropodist and podiatrist practitioners;
	(3)  what plans the Department of Health has to recommend to the Health Professions Council that they institute a sub-register for current chiropodists who may decide not to join the Health Professions Council's register;
	(4)  what plans his Department has to recommend to the Health Professions Council that they create protected titles other than chiropodist and podiatrist.

Hazel Blears: holding answers 12 February2003
	My right hon. Friend the Minister of State met the President and Chief Executive of the Health Professionals Council (HPC) on 4 December 2002, at which meeting all aspects of the HPC's proposals were discussed.
	The HPC consulted about which titles should be protected by law and has undertaken extensive market research to understand the public's perception of titles currently in use by healthcare professionals. The HPC's decision to propose the protection of both chiropodist and podiatrist reflects the general perception that these titles are used interchangeably. The titles indicate that those registered have met HPCs standards of competence. All applicants for registration will be expected to meet standards of proficiency, whether they are applying through the transitional arrangements, as international applicants or as UK applicants who have completed an approved course.
	The HPC proposes using subsections of the register to distinguish between modalities of care but believes that to distinguish between skill levels would be confusing and unnecessary. The HPC has no plans to introduce a sub-register for those practitioners who do not meet the Council's standards of proficiency and who would not therefore be able to use the protected titles. Ultimately, it is for the HPC to propose and the Privy Council to determine the protected titles that will be associated with parts and subsections of the Health Professions Register.

Clinical Competence

Barbara Follett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department has undertaken and commissioned on the appropriateness of a three years out of five rule to assess clinical competence; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: None. The three years out of five years rule is drawn from European Union Directives on recognition of qualifications for all professions which require a relevant qualification.

Correspondence

Richard Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the Under-Secretary of State for Health, the hon. Member for Salford (Ms Blears), will reply to the letters of 25 October 2002, 9 December 2002 and 13 January 2003, from the hon. Member for West Suffolk concerning Mr. Dominique Porché, a constituent.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 6 February 2003
	A reply was sent to the hon. Member on 12 February 2003.

Delivery Unit

Mark Prisk: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many officials in his Department have been assigned to do specific work (a) with and (b) for the Delivery Unit since June 2001;
	(2)  when Ministers from his Department last met members of the Delivery Unit; and on how many occasions since its establishment Ministers have met members of the Unit;
	(3)  which announcements made by his Department since June 2001 have been cleared in advance with the Delivery Unit;
	(4)  which Ministers and officials from his Department have visited areas outside London accompanied by Members of the Delivery Unit;
	(5)  when the Permanent Secretary in his Department last met members of the Delivery Unit;
	(6)  how many reports his Department has been comissioned to produce by the Delivery Unit in the next (a) 12 and (b) 24 months;
	(7)  if he will list the reports made since June 2001 by his Department to the Delivery Unit;
	(8)  what targets have been set for his Department by the Delivery Unit since June 2001; and what progress has been made in meeting such targets;
	(9)  when Ministers from his Department last met (a) the Prime Minister and (b) officials to discuss targets set by the Delivery Unit; and what plans there are for further meetings.

David Lammy: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is responsible for meeting the Department's Public Service Agreement targets set out Cm 5571, copies of which are available in the Library.
	The Delivery Unit was established to strengthen the capacity of Whitehall to deliver the Government's key objectives. It works closely with us to help us deliver our PSA targets, and we are in regular contact with members of the Unit.
	Information about internal meetings is not disclosed under Exemption 2 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

Elderly People (Patient Transfers)

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effect on their health of transferring elderly people between residential or nursing homes.

Jacqui Smith: The Department recognises that moving into and between care homes can be difficult and stressful for any long-term resident, particularly vulnerable older people.
	Such moves, including ones made as a result of care home closures, should be handled as sensitively and appropriately as possible. Proper arrangements should be made for the safe and satisfactory transfer of all residents to other suitable homes. There should be adequate time for this to be done, in a way that allows both residents and their relatives a choice in where they are to move to, and which creates the minimum possible discomfort to all concerned.

Epilepsy

Patsy Calton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  if he will make a statement on progress towards an action plan for reducing sudden death by epilepsy;
	(2)  what guidance he gives to consultants of patients with epilepsy to ensure that those patients are fully informed about the risks of sudden death from the complaint.

Jacqui Smith: We are committed to improving services for people with epilepsy. We have published an epilepsy action plan in response to the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) sponsored national clinical audit of epilepsy-related death and recommendations in the chief medical officer's 2001 annual report. The action plan is available in the Library.
	The audit report and action plan draw the attention of local National Health Service clinicians and organisations to the need to establish or review policies and practices regarding the management of epilepsy and epilepsy related deaths.

Fluoridation

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the compatibility of fluoridation of the public water supply with the European Convention on Human Rights.

Hazel Blears: In our view fluoridation is compatible with the Convention. It is a valuable health measure and fluoridation schemes can only be implemented where the local population has been consulted and have indicated their support.

Food Labelling

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to improve food labelling; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 13 February 2003
	The Food Standards Agency has adopted a wide-ranging action plan to tackle the issues consumers have identified as priorities for improving food labelling. The Agency is pressing for a number of important changes in European law; for example on country of origin labelling, nutrition labelling and health claims. It is also working closely with stakeholders on a range of voluntary initiatives, including clearer labelling, appropriate use of claims like 'fresh', 'natural' and 'pure' and more extensive, clearer country of origin labelling.

Food Labelling

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will require food products which contain artificial sweeteners and display a label indicating that they are sugar free to display details of the artificial sweeteners in the same typeface as the sugar free declaration.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 13 February 2003
	Foods containing artificial sweeteners are required by law to be marked or labelled with the indication "with sweetener(s)" or "with sugar and sweetener(s)" as appropriate, if they carry a 'sugar free' claim. There is no requirement for this indication to be in any particular size or type of lettering, but it must be clearly legible.
	Labelling rules are set at European Union level and are currently being reviewed by the European Commission. In the meantime, the Food Standards Agency is reviewing its labelling guidance and plans to advise that sweetener declarations should be given due emphasis.

Greater London Assembly

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what financial assistance his Department gave to the Greater London Assembly in 2002; and for what projects.

Hazel Blears: The Department does not provide financial assistance to the Greater London Assembly.

Health Chief Executives

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list Chief Executives of health bodies who have left their posts over the last 24 months; if he will give the reason in each case; and what financial package arrangements were made in each case.

John Hutton: The Department does not collect information centrally on the number of chief executives leaving their posts, the reasons for leaving nor on the payments made.

Health Professions Council

Barbara Follett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the professional advisory committees; and what discussions he has had with the Health Professions Council on its proposals for professional liaison groups.

John Hutton: I met with the President and Chief Executive of the Health Professions Council (HPC) on 4 December 2002, when all aspects of the HPC's proposals were discussed.
	Under the Professions Supplementary to Medicine Act 1960, the Council for Professions Supplementary to Medicine (CPSM) had permanent standing uni-professional advisory committees. The Health Professions Order 2001 allows the Council to set up professional advisory committees to advise the Council or its statutory committees on matters affecting relevant professions. Any advisory groups or committees may be multi-professional with flexibility to provide profession specific advice as and when required. Ultimately, it is for the HPC to decide how best to obtain the necessary advice and also the mechanism for supplying it.

Home Care

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which local authorities have a zero rating policy for charging for home care.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 13 February 2003
	The information requested is not collected centrally.

Home Care Charges

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list, by local authority area in England, the (a) average and (b) maximum home care charges made by local authorities.

Jacqui Smith: Information on individual council's home care charging policies is not held centrally.
	The Department of Health issued statutory guidance to local councils for home care charges in November 2001. The guidance states that when assessing a person's
	income, charges should not reduce users' incomes below basic levels of income support plus a 25 per cent. buffer, and when setting an overriding maximum charge councils should consult users.

Homeless People

Mr. Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on how access to the health services of homeless people living in (a) hostels and (b) bed and breakfasts is being encouraged.

Hazel Blears: National Health Service services are available free to anyone who is ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom, including anyone who is homeless. Primary care trusts (PCTs) have a duty to ensure appropriate and timely access to healthcare for everyone in their area, including the homeless and those living in hostel accommodation.
	In addition, the new requirement on local authorities to carry out a review of homelessness in their area and develop a homelessness strategy with local partners, such as the PCT, will help to identify gaps in services and ensure that there is appropriate mainstream and specialist health care for homeless people.
	We have in place a range of initiatives to improve access to primary care services for homeless people. These include the development of a model general medical service local development scheme for PCTs and the promotion of locally agreed personal medical services (PMS) contracts with a similar focus. There are now nearly 90 PMS pilot schemes which include the homeless as a priority objective. In addition, we are generally trying to improve access to NHS services for all through a variety of different access routes, for example, through walk-in-centres, diagnosis and treatment centres and one-stop primary care centres.

Homeless People

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what support is offered to homeless people to help them register with general practitioners; and what duty general practitioners have to register homeless people;
	(2)  what action the Government have taken to alleviate the problem of homeless people not registered with general practitioners.

John Hutton: National Health Service medical primary care services are available free to everyone who is ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom, including anyone who is homeless. The Department is taking a range of actions to improve access for such people. These initiatives include developing targeted personal medical services pilot schemes, a model general medical services local development scheme, the provision of NHS walk-in centres and, most recently, reminding GPs, in the monthly GP newsletter for February 2003, that a patient does not need to have a permanent address to register for services.

Hospital Acquired Infection

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the implications of hospital acquired infections for delayed discharge rates; and what representations he has received from care homes refusing to take residents from NHS trusts who have MRSA.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 13 February 2003
	Data on the impact of hospital acquired infections on discharge from hospital are limited. However, it is estimated1 that patients who acquire an infection in hospital remain in hospital on average an extra 11 days.
	We have not received evidence that refusal to take patients because of methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a significant problem. MRSA is not a contraindication to admission to a residential or nursing home and a Department of Health leaflet, entitled "MRSA—What nursing and residential homes need to know", provides advice on this topic.
	1. The Socio-economic Burden of Hospital Acquired Infection PHLS1999, also available at www. doh.go v. uk/ha/costs, htm

Hospital Beds

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the change in the total number of hospital beds was in 2001–02.

John Hutton: The average daily number of available general and acute beds in National Health Service hospitals increased in 2001–02 by 789 to 136,583 compared to the previous year.
	The Chief Executive's Report published on 20 December demonstrates where increased resources have led to an improved system of care. A system that is flexible and where increased activity happens outside the traditional inpatient hospital stay—in outpatients or in primary care. In the mental health sector, services for users are developing to provide prompt assessment and treatment round the clock for people with acute mental health needs who would otherwise have to be admitted to hospital. New services have been developed with an increase in patient contact with assertive outreach teams, crisis resolution teams and early intervention teams over the last year.

Hospital Building Programmes (London)

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much public funding is available for NHS hospital building programmes within the Greater London area.

Hazel Blears: National health service capital allocations for the period 2003–04 to 2005–06 were announced on 8 January 2003. The capital allocations provide funding for the NHS hospital building programme and other capital investment within the NHS.
	The amount allocated to the NHS organisations in London was £307million for 2003–04, £340 million for 2004–05 and £374 million for 2005–06. A breakdown is shown in the table.
	This investment will be supplemented by additional public capital funding that will be issued in the future, and by investment from the Private Finance Initiative.
	
		£000
		
			  2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 
		
		
			 Strategic Capital to Strategic Health Authorities 
			 North West London StHA 39,819 43,419 46,717 
			 North Central London StHA 26,377 33,922 36,834 
			 North East London StHA 33,376 34,416 37,370 
			 South East London StHA 31,067 34,501 37,462 
			 South West London StHA 23,819 22,839 24,800 
			   
			 Operational Capital Allocations to NHS Trusts 
			 Barnet PCT 928 1,060 1,199 
			 Enfield PCT 273 312 353 
			 Haringey PCT 244 261 279 
			 Camden PCT 869 992 1,122 
			 Islington PCT 298 341 385 
			 Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust 4,921 5,617 6,356 
			 North Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust 2,010 2,211 2,502 
			 Whittington Hospital NHS Trust 2,426 2,669 3,020 
			 Tavistock and Portman NHS Trust 114 130 139 
			 Great Ormond Street Hospital NHS Trust 1,481 1,690 1,912 
			 Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Trust 1,101 1,257 1,422 
			 Barnet, Enfield and Haringey MH NHS Trust 1,860 2,123 2,402 
			 Camden and Islington Mental Health NHS Trust 817 932 1,055 
			 University College London Hospital NHS Trust 5,709 6,517 7,374 
			 Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals NHS Trust 3,716 4,242 4,800 
			 Havering PCT 738 797 902 
			 Barking and Dagenham PCT 101 108 115 
			 City and Hackney PCT 497 567 641 
			 Tower Hamlets PCT 1,159 1,240 1,327 
			 Newham PCT 826 908 1,027 
			 Walthamstow, Leyton and Leytonstone PCT 300 321 343 
			 Chingford, Wanstead and Woodford PCT 181 203 228 
			 Redbridge PCT 121 129 139 
			 North East London Mental Health NHS Trust 1,255 1,433 1,621 
			 Barking, Havering and Redbridge Hospital NHS Trust 6,125 6,992 7,911 
			 Whipps Cross University Hospital NHS Trust 2,532 2,890 3,270 
			 Newham Healthcare NHS Trust 2,033 2,321 2,626 
			 Barts and The London NHS Trust 8,454 9,405 10,063 
			 Homerton University Hospital NHS Trust 2,169 2,321 2,483 
			 East London and The City Mental Health NHS Trust 889 951 1,073 
			 Hillingdon PCT 204 233 264 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham Primary Care Trust 277 297 317 
			 Ealing Primary Care Trust 382 409 463 
			 Hounslow Primary Care Trust 271 290 310 
			 Brent Primary Care Trust 631 675 723 
			 Harrow Primary Care Trust 259 295 316 
			 Kensington and Chelsea Primary Care Trust 1,307 1,492 1,689 
			 Westminster Primary Care Trust 432 493 557 
			 The Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Trust 996 1,066 1,141 
			 The Hillingdon Hospital NHS Trust 2,926 3,340 3,779 
			 Ealing Hospital NHS Trust 1,601 1,713 1,917 
			 West Middlesex University NHS Trust 2,138 2,288 2,448 
			 St Mary's NHS Trust 3,577 3,935 4,210 
			 West London Mental Health NHS Trust 3,315 3,784 4,223 
			 Chelsea and Westminster Healthcare NHS Trust 5,631 6,427 7,272 
			 Hammersmith Hospitals NHS Trust 9,080 10,364 11,726 
			 Royal Brompton and Harefield NHS Trust 3,304 3,771 4,238 
			 Central and North West London Mental Health NHS Trust 1,389 1,486 1,590 
			 North West London Hospitals NHS Trust 4,375 4,993 5,650 
			 Bromley PCT 544 621 703 
			 Greenwich PCT 126 144 163 
			 Bexley PCT 124 133 142 
			 Lambeth PCT 337 385 435 
			 Southwark PCT 336 384 434 
			 Lewisham PCT 427 488 552 
			 Queen Elizabeth Hospital NHS Trust 1,156 1,236 1,323 
			 Bromley Hospitals NHS Trust 2,408 2,748 3,110 
			 Queen Mary's Sidcup NHS Trust 1,656 1,821 2,061 
			 Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Trust 9,832 11,223 12,699 
			 The Lewisham Hospital NHS Trust 2,790 3,069 3,472 
			 King's Healthcare NHS Trust 5,280 6,027 6,768 
			 Oxleas NHS Trust 710 760 813 
			 South London and Maudsley NHS Trust 3,236 3,462 3,705 
			 Kingston PCT 196 224 253 
			 Croydon PCT 257 275 294 
			 Wandsworth PCT 2,145 2,448 2,770 
			 Richmond & Twickenham PCT 100 112 124 
			 Sutton & Merton PCT 912 1,041 1,178 
			 Kingston Hospital NHS Trust 2,314 2,508 2,838 
			 Mayday Healthcare NHS Trust 1,888 2,076 2,349 
			 St George's Healthcare NHS Trust 5,413 6,179 6,991 
			 The Royal Marsden Hospital NHS Trust 1,895 2,028 2,170 
			 SW London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust 2,121 2,421 2,635 
			 London Ambulance Service NHS Trust 6,033 6,455 6,907 
			 Epsom and St Helier NHS Trust 4,128 4,417 4,726

Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many delayed discharge patients there were in the Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust in the last year for which figures are available.

Jacqui Smith: Delayed transfer of care figures are published quarterly on a primary care trust basis and are available in the Library.

Hydrotherapy

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which hospital trusts have hydrotherapy pools; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: The information requested is not collected centrally.

International Advice Line

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his answer of 17 December 2002, Official Report, column 794W, on the international advice line, how many calls were received on 08458 50588 in (a) December 2002 and (b) January 2003.

John Hutton: The overseas nurses' advice line received 12 completed calls in December 2002 and 23 completed calls in January 2003.

National Cancer Plan

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much of the National Cancer Plan money that has been allocated so far for palliative care has been received by (a) voluntary based hospices and (b) NHS hospices.

Hazel Blears: The NHS Cancer Plan, published in September 2000, pledged that the National Health Service contribution to the costs of specialist palliative care, including hospices would increase by £50 million by 2004.
	Estimates from Help the Hospices show that the level of statutory funding for voluntary hospices has increased by 14 per cent, in cash terms over the past two years. To enable faster progress towards the commitment to increase NHS investment in specialist palliative care by £50 million by 2003–04, we have made available an extra £10 million from central budgets for specialist palliative care for 2002–03.
	A central budget of £50 million per annum for the year 2003–04 to 2005–06 has been set up for specialist palliative care. I refer the hon. Member to the response I gave to my hon. Friend, the hon. Member for Jarrow (Stephen Hepburn) today.

National Care Standards Commission

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what qualifications are held by National Care Standards Commission inspectors relevant to their work in inspecting residential nursing homes.

Jacqui Smith: All inspectors employed by the National Care Standards Commission are required to hold a professional qualification and have a minimum of three years' experience working in a nursing, social care or health setting, to enable them to undertake their work as inspector.

Neuroleptic Prescribing

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the incidence of inappropriate neuroleptic prescribing in nursing and residential homes; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what steps he has taken to reduce the over-medication of older people in (a) residential and (b) nursing homes; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what estimate he has made of the number of older people who are inappropriately prescribed (a) traditional and (b) atypical antipsychotic medication.

Jacqui Smith: Estimated numbers of prescription items for antipsychotics (all antipsychotics and atypical antipsychotics) are shown in the table.
	
		Estimated number of prescription items for antipsychotics per 1,000 population
		
			  Elderly (60+) Non-elderly 
		
		
			 All antipsychotics 
			 1999 213 64 
			 2000 224 67 
			 2001 210 64 
			 2002(88) 109 35 
			 Atypical antipsychotics 
			 2001 81 55 
			 2002(88) 25 17 
		
	
	(88) April-September.
	Source:
	Prescription Cost Analysis (PCA) data
	Information is not available about prescribing specifically in care homes.
	The Government are aware of concerns about the possibility of inappropriate prescribing of antipsychotic medication in care homes and of the results of a recent survey on this issue. A number of developments should help ensure that antipsychotic medication is used only when appropriate. In particular, implementation of the medicines management supplement of the older people's national service framework and the requirements in the care homes national minimum standards around management of medication should ensure that any problems are picked up.

NHS Beds

Dr. Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the baseline was for the target for extra beds by 2004 in general and acute wards announced in the NHS plan.

John Hutton: The baseline for the NHS Plan target was the average daily number of available beds in general and acute wards open overnight in 1999–2000.

Nurses and Nursing Agencies

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 5 February, Official Report, column 225W, on international nurse recruitment, in what form each agency responded to the allegations; what methods were used to verify the information given by (a) the agency and (b) the overseas nurse who instigated the complaint; and what appeals procedures are in place if one party disagrees with the findings of the Department's ruling.

John Hutton: In all cases the allegations have been received in writing and the agencies have responded in writing. After consideration of the allegation and the responses the Department has, again in all cases, decided no further action was necessary. No party has this far expressed any disagreement with the Department's decision. Should there be a disagreement, the Department would consider a higher level internal review.

Palliative Care

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many homeless people were not registered with a general practitioner in (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) Tyne and Wear and (d) England in each year since 1997.

John Hutton: The. Department does not hold information on the number of people, whatever their circumstances, not registered with a general practitioner.
	The data on registered patients do not allow homeless people who are registered with a GP or personal medical service pilot provider to be separately identified.

Palliative Care

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how much of the £50 million allocated for palliative care will be given to South Tyneside;
	(2)  what the criteria are for hospices to qualify for funding allocated for palliative care under the cancer plan;
	(3)  what plans there are to speed up the allocation of the £50 million allocated for palliative care in the cancer plan.

Hazel Blears: A central budget of £50 million per annum for the year 2003–04 to 2005–06 has been set up for specialist palliative care. This ensures that the pledge in the NHS Cancer Plan of an additional £50 million per annum by 2004 is met. South Tyneside Primary Care Trust (PCT) has provisionally been allocated £173,000.
	Before any allocations can be made from the central budget, the agreed cancer network plans will need to be approved by the strategic health authority—which will oversee the process and retain its monitoring role—and then be submitted to and approved by the National Partnership Group.
	The National Partnership Group is chaired by Professor Mike Richards, the National Cancer Director. It includes representatives from all levels of the National Health Service and a wide range of voluntary organisations. Network plans must be submitted to the National Partnership Group by 31 March at the latest and the group will approve plans as soon as possible after that. Allocations will be made as soon as plans are approved. The £50 million is to help tackle inequalities in access to specialist palliative care and to enable the NHS to make a realistic contribution to the cost hospices incur in providing agreed levels of service. The money is for specialist palliative care services in their entirety and not for voluntary hospices alone although, as they play an essential role and provide two thirds of all specialist palliative care, it is reasonable to expect they will get a fair slice of this extra money. Information about this process, about the criteria and of the provisional allocation for each PCT has been placed in the Library and is available on the Department of Health's website at www.doh.qov.uk/cancer/palliative 03 06.htm.

Patient Records

Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what procedures are in place for correcting false records relating to patients in the NHS.

David Lammy: Patient records should reflect the observations, judgements and factual information collected by the contributing health professional. Incorrect factual information should be corrected by those responsible for maintaining the record and the Data Protection Act 1998 provides a legal basis for enforcing such corrections when appropriate. An opinion or judgement recorded by a health professional, whether accurate or not, should not be subsequently amended however as it is essential for understanding the clinical decisions that were made and to audit the quality of care.

Patient Records

Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what procedures are in place for preventing a health trust (a) destroying records within its possession and (b) failing to disclose information.

David Lammy: Each National Health Service trust and health authority is legally responsible for managing records and complying with legislation and guidance on disclosing information.
	In the NHS, guidance and governance arrangements have been designed to assure compliance with law and good practice, while minimising the overheads of managing and auditing detailed procedures. Independent authorities, such as the Audit Commission, Health Service Commissioner and Information Commissioner, oversee the governance arrangements and may impose sanctions where there is a significant failure to comply.
	Trusts keep records to support patient care and other legal requirements, but it is also necessary to destroy records when they are of no further value. Destruction should be controlled by formal retention and disposal arrangements based on the NHS Retention and Disposal Schedule issued by the Department of Health.
	Trusts are legally obliged to give patients access to their own personal information, and are expected to be open about their organisation, policies and processes. But there are also circumstances when it is right to withhold information. Such circumstances are set out clearly in published guidance on data protection and openness.

Patient Records

Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health in whom rests final authority to (a) retain and (b) destroy patient records and associated documentation.

David Lammy: Final authority for retention or destruction of National Health Service records rests with the individual NHS trust, primary care trust or heath authority concerned.
	NHS patient and administrative records are public records. The Public Records Act 1958 requires everyone handling public records to manage them responsibly from the time they are created to their eventual destruction or selection for permanent preservation.
	Destruction of records should only be carried out according to formal retention and disposal arrangements, based on the NHS Retention and Disposal Schedule issued by the Department of Health, but varied by agreement with senior clinical and administrative staff to suit local conditions.
	The Department of Health last issued guidance on record keeping, with a revised NHS Retention and Disposal Schedule, in 1999. The guidance and disposal schedule are availableon the Department of Health web site at http://www.doh.gov.uk/nhsexec/manrec.htm

Patient Records

Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether it is permissible for medical records to be released on an unsolicited basis by one health trust to another.

David Lammy: Health records are held in confidence, subject to common law obligations of confidence and the requirements of the Data Protection Act 1998.
	It would be permissible for a health trust to release medical records to another trust on an unsolicited basis where —
	there is a legal requirement to do so;
	there is a public interest in such a disclosure e.g. where child protection issues have arisen;
	the patient has requested or otherwise consented to the release;
	the record has been effectively anonymised.

Public Bodies

Evan Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list those public bodies for which his Department is responsible where provision is made in the job description of the chairman that the policies of the body are compatible with those of the Secretary of State.

John Hutton: holding answer 12 February 2003
	The job descriptions for the chairs of the following bodies state they should ensure that their board observes the Secretary of State's policies and priorities.
	National Health Service trusts
	Strategic health authorities
	Primary care trusts
	The Dental Practice Board
	The Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health
	The NHS Appointments Commission
	The National Institute for Clinical Excellence

Respite Care (Disabled People)

Patsy Calton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans the Government have for increasing (a) the numbers of carers and (b) the effective use of respite care for the disabled.

Jacqui Smith: The Department has committed funding of £1.5 million, to the national social care recruitment campaign, launched in October 2001. The campaign comprises national advertising, leaflets, posters, local and national public relations activity, a helpline, and a website. The materials produced are available to local employers to support their own recruitment and retention efforts to reduce vacancy rates in the social care workforce.
	The effective use of respite care for the disabled is supported by the carers' grant, introduced in 1999 to support councils in providing short breaks for carers to enable them to continue to care whilst maintaining their own health and wellbeing.

Secure Hospitals

Mr. Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many prisoners with mental health problems were awaiting transfer to a secure hospital on the last day of 2002, broken down by prison establishment.

Jacqui Smith: Data are not currently collected in the form requested.

Sexual Assault

Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many sexual assault referral centres in the UK the Department funds (a) alone and (b) jointly with another agency, at premises other than at hospitals;
	(2)  how many sexual assault referral centres the Department funds (a) alone and (b) jointly with another agency.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 12 February 2003
	The Department does not directly fund sexual assault referral centres (SARCS). We understand that there are currently six SARCs in England but that their funding is a matter for the local police force and or authority and the local primary care trust and National Health Service trust.
	However we are aware that the Home Office, through the crime reduction programme—violence against women initiative, is funding a nurse forensic examiner project at St Mary's SARC in Manchester. It is also funding a project to examine the impact that SARCs may have on attrition rates for sexual offences; comparing SARC areas with areas where no SARC is available. These are research projects, and interim data are currently being analysed. The findings will help inform decisions about future SARC development.

Sexual Assault

Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what the Department's policy is on locating future sexual assault referral centres at (a) hospitals and (b) separate premises;
	(2)  what steps are being taken by the Department to support the establishment of sexual assault referral centres;
	(3)  how many sexual assault referral centres there are in the UK at hospital premises.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 12 February 2003
	People who have been raped or sexually assaulted require access to a variety of services including forensic examination, counselling and treatment to prevent sexually transmitted infections and pregnancy. We are aware that sexual assault referral centres (SARCs) have been developed in a number of areas to provide a 24 hour comprehensive service under one roof. Information on numbers of SARCs is not collected centrally however we understand that there are currently six across England. A number of different models exist, which include centres located within or attached to hospitals.
	We will work with the Home Office to support the further development of SARCs and other service options.

Skin Conditions

Patsy Calton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the impact on long-term conditions, with particular reference to eczema, psoriasis and acne, if they are omitted from the National Service Framework on long-term conditions.

Jacqui Smith: The national service framework for long-term conditions will have a particular focus on neurological conditions, and brain and spinal injuries. But in so doing, it will also tackle some of the common issues which are relevant to a wider range of people with long-term conditions generally and help to drive up the quality of treatment and care.
	In September 2000, the NHS Modernisation Agency established the Action on Dermatology programme. Around £35 million has been invested in capital projects since then. Action on Dermatology—Good Practice Guidance was published on 20 January 2003 and issued to dermatology departments in primary care trusts and strategic health authorities. This will help ensure that people with dermatological conditions have access to appropriate services and support across the country.
	In December 2001, the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) issued Referral Practice, a guide to appropriate referral from general to specialist services. The booklet includes the suggested referral practice for atopic eczema in children and psoriasis. A copy of the booklet is available at http://www.nice.orq.uk/pdf/Referraladvice.pdf

Social Services

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 9 January 2003, Official Report, column 328W, how many older people received each category of community based social services in each year since 1997.

Jacqui Smith: The figures quoted in the answer of 9 January 2003 come from the Key Statistics (KS1) return that is used to calculate the social services performance assessment framework (PAF) indicators. This information is contained in the publication 'Social Services Performance Assessment Framework Indicators 2001–2002' which is available at http://www.doh.gov.uk/paf. The indicator 'C32–Older people helped to live at home' provides the total number of older people receiving community-based services as at 31 March for the years 1998–2002. However, a breakdown of individual services is not available.

Social Work Degrees

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to minimise tuition fees costs for people wanting to undertake a three-year social worker degree.

Jacqui Smith: The bursary for social work students, which we are introducing in September 2003, will include the contribution for tuition fees which the local education authority has assessed the student should meet.

Social Work Diploma

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what level of specialisation in child care and child protection practice will be included in the new three year Diploma in Social Work.

Jacqui Smith: The training for the new social work degree has an emphasis on learning for practice. There is a requirement for students to spend a minimum of 2002 days learning in practice in at least two settings, to include statutory social work tasks involving legal intervention and of providing services to at least two user groups. Training providers must also ensure that students undertake specific learning in a number of key areas including communication skills with children, adults and those with particular communication needs. Partnership working and information sharing across professional disciplines and agencies must also be covered. I have placed a copy of the Requirements for Social Work in the Library.
	On qualification there are opportunities for further training in specialist areas such as childcare. As part of the reform of social work education, the General Social Care Council (GSCC) is undertaking a review of the current framework for post-qualifying training for social work. This will include a review of the PQ Child Care Award.

Social Workers

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance he has issued on the training of unqualified staff as social workers from in-house local authority social services departments.

Jacqui Smith: I have not issued any guidance regarding the training of unqualified staff as social workers. However, at the Association of Directors of Social Services (ADSS) conference in October 2000 my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State, announced funding for a three-year student support scheme for those studying for first level professional social work qualifications.
	The funds for this scheme were put into a ring-fenced sub-programme of the Training Support Programme Grant and they have been used to enable employers to develop their experienced care staff by putting them forward for training in the Diploma in Social Work (DipSW). This year the funds can also be used to support staff who commence the new three year degree in social work in September 2003. The funds available in this TSP sub-programme are as follows:
	
		
			  
		
		
			 2001–02 £3 million 
			 2002–03 £13 million 
			 2003–04 £13 million 
		
	
	In 2003–04, £6 million will be allocated to ensure that each local council area has a Trainee Social Worker scheme. Some councils already have schemes to 'grow their own' social workers through trainee social worker schemes. The programme we are proposing will ensure that a scheme will be operating in all areas.

Social Workers

Mr. Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he is taking to increase the number of applications to be social workers in (a) London and (b) the UK.

Jacqui Smith: To make social work a more attractive career choice, a new degree level qualification in social work is being introduced from September 2003. It will make newly qualified staff more confident, competent and better equipped for the realities of social work practice. Also, for September, a non-means tested bursary is being introduced to encourage more students to enter social work training. It will be payable to new and existing students, who ordinarily reside in England and who are not funded by their employer.
	Both developments are supported throughout, by the national social work recruitment campaign, launched in October 2001, backed by funding of £1.5 million. Applications for social work courses have risen for the first time in seven years, by 8.3 per cent, on the numbers for 2001.

Social Workers

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many vacancies he estimates there are for social workers in (a) the Portsmouth area and (b) England; and if he will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: We do not hold central information on social worker vacancies in each local authority area. A survey undertaken by the Employers Organisation found that, across all local authority social services in England as at 30 September 2001, around 10 per cent, of all field social worker posts were vacant. Regional variations show that, as of 30 September 2001, the south west has vacancy rates of 8.5 per cent.

Social Workers

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he is taking to increase the number of social worker applications in (a) the Portsmouth area and (b) England; and if he will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: To make social work a more attractive career choice a new degree level qualification in social work, is being introduced from Sept 2003. It will make newly qualified staff more confident, competent and better equipped for the realities of social work practice. Also, for September, a non-means tested bursary is being introduced to encourage more students to enter social work training. It will be payable to new and existing students, ordinarily resident in England, who are not funded by their employer.
	Both developments are supported throughout, by the national social work recruitment campaign, launched in October 2001, backed by funding of £1.5 million. Applications for social work courses have risen for the first time in seven years, by 8.3 per cent, on the numbers for 2001. The action taken by the Department of Health is to increase the number of social worker applications in England. It is for local employers to take other specific action locally.

Strokes

Peter Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what research has been carried out to assess how many patients admitted to hospital as a stroke patient were admitted to the stroke unit during their stay at any time in (a) the UK, (b) England and (c) the Lancashire and Cumbria Strategic Health Authority; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what plans he has to expand follow-up treatment to help increase the numbers of stroke patients who have a return to normal blood pressure six months after discharge; and if he will make a statement.
	(3)  what research has been carried out to assess the number of stroke patients for whom it would be appropriate to be assessed in their own home prior to discharge that undergo such assessment in (a) the UK, (b) England and (c) Lancashire and Cumbria Strategic Health Authority; and if he will make a statement;
	(4)  what research has been carried out to assess (a) the number of stroke patients discharged into residential or nursing home care, having been previously independent, in (i) the UK, (ii) England and (iii) Lancashire and Cumbria Strategic Health Authority and (b) the reasons for most patients being discharged into such residential or nursing home care; and if he will make a statement;
	(5)  what plans he has to increase the aftercare and secondary prevention on stroke patients following their discharge to include (a) hypertension management, (b) lipid lowering and (c) modification of behavioural risk factors; and if he will make a statement;
	(6)  what assessment has been made of the change in the numbers of stroke patients who have brain imaging within the two day target of the National Service Framework for Older People; what plans he has to (a) increase these numbers and (b) achieve a 100 per cent. target rate; and if he will make a statement;
	(7)  what research has been carried out to identify the reasons for the number of stroke patients for whom it would be appropriate to be assessed in their own home prior to discharge that do not undergo such an assessment; and if he will make a statement;
	(8)  what plans he has to increase the number of stroke physicians in hospital trusts; and if he will make a statement;
	(9)  what targets the Department sets for assessment of stroke victims by (a) swallowing assessment within 24 hours, (b) visual fields recorded within 24 hours, (c) weighing the patient and (d) brain imaging assessment criteria; and if he will make a statement;
	(10)  what research has been carried out to assess the number of patients admitted to hospital as a stroke patient who (a) spend no time within the stroke unit during their stay and (b) are admitted to the stroke unit during their stay and who receive 50 per cent.or more of their treatment within the unit in (i) the UK, (ii) England and (iii) Lancashire and Cumbria Strategic Health Authority; and if he will make a statement;
	(11)  what research has been carried out to assess the numbers of stroke patients who have a return to normal blood pressure six months after discharge in (a) the UK, (b) England and (c) Lancashire and Cumbria; and if he will make a statement;
	(12)  what plans he has to improve the effectiveness of stroke units and to increase the capacity of units; and if he will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: We do not collect routinely information on stroke services at the level of detail requested in these questions. The most comprehensive source of information is the National Sentinel Stroke Audit, carried out by the Royal College of Physicians. The audit was commissioned by the National Health Service in 1998 and was last updated in 2002. The results can be found at
	http://www.rcplondon.ac.uk/pubs/strokeauditQl-02.pdf.
	The audit contains information covering discharge arrangements, and clinical assessments including swallowing assessments and visual fields. The 2002 audit shows that 73 per cent. of trusts who participated had a stroke unit, compared to 56 per cent, three years earlier. In addition, 83 per cent, of patients receive brain imaging—the highest ever level. The audit shows that 80 per cent, of trusts that participated have a consultant physician with specialist knowledge of stroke who is formally recognised as having principal responsibility for stroke services. While it is recognised that some services need to increase their capacity, the audit notes that very significant improvements have already been made.
	Our major vehicle for further improving standards for stroke services is through the older people's national service framework (NSF), which sets specific milestones for improvement by 2004 of stroke services in primary care trusts (PCTs), specialist services and general hospitals that care for people suffering from a stroke. Our document, Improvement, Expansion and Reform, which sets for the NHS a priorities and planning framework for 2003–6, makes clear that implementation of the older people's NSF is a top priority and that the 2004 milestone around specialist stroke services is a key target.
	We monitor progress against the key milestones in the NSF. From the information gathered so far, we know that 83 per cent, of the hospitals who have replied now have plans to have a specialist stroke service in place by April 2004.
	Under the NSF, PCTs will need to ensure that every general practice can identify and treat patients identified as being at risk of stroke because of high blood pressure, atrial fibrillation or other risk factors by April 2004. To help ensure that the treatment they receive is of a consistent standard, the National Institute of Clinical Excellence is developing guidelines for the management of hypertension in primary care. The Institute's report is expected next year.
	Implementation of the NSF for older people is leading to real improvements in stroke services and making a difference to people's lives. The development of better services and improved standards in stroke care requires the right balance between national standards, provided by the NSF, national clinical guidelines and local control. It will be important to ensure that stroke care services are co-ordinated and fully integrated within a full range of other relevant local services.

Strokes

Graham Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what monitoring has taken place against the April 2002 milestone contained in Standard Five of the National Health Service Framework for Older People, for every general hospital treating stroke patients to have a plan to introduce a specialised stroke unit by April 2004; and what proportion of hospitals have met the milestone.

Jacqui Smith: An exercise conducted in autumn 2002 concluded that 83 per cent. of hospitals have plans in place to introduce a specialist stroke service from 2004.

Tobacco Products

Mr. Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the system of licensing for sale of tobacco products by retailers.

Hazel Blears: There is at present no system of licensing for retailers of tobacco products.
	There is a Tobacco Enforcement Protocol (published in March 1998) aimed at assisting local authorities with regard to the enforcement legislation to prevent the sale of tobacco products to minors. The Department of Health has sponsored an initiative over the last year to improve the awareness and training of trading standards officers and enforcement officers of local authorities involved in this work. This has been done in co-operation with the Trading Standards Institute (TSI) and the Local Authority Co-ordinators of Regulatory Services (LACORS).

Vehicle Fleets

Martin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made with renewal of NHS trusts' vehicle fleets on a lower emission basis, broken down by volume and percentage for each category of vehicle, type of power unit and/or type of fuel, in each of the last three years.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 10 February 2003
	Reducing vehicle emissions is a key transport issue, which has been agreed as a priority across Government. Against a baseline year of 2002–03, all Departments are aiming by 31 March 2006 to reduce road transport vehicle carbon dioxide emissions by at least 10 per cent, and requiring at least 10 per cent, of all fleet cars to be alternatively fuelled.
	Progress against these targets will be reported in the Sustainable Development in Government annual reports. The first full report against the Framework will be in 2003, reporting against the baseline year of 2002–2003.
	The National Health Service has a vehicle fleet of more than 40,000 vehicles but information in the format requested is currently not available.